THE  LIBRARY 

OF 

THE  UNIVERSITY 
OF  CALIFORNIA 

LOS  ANGELES 


THE  SON  OF  MAN 


From  an  oil  painting  by  P.  &•  L.  Wells} 

JESUS    AS    HE    MAY    HAVE    LOOKED    WHEN    A    YOUTH. 


at  ilatt 


EPIC 


BY 
PERCIVAL    W.    WELLS 

AUTHOR  OF 

LILIES  OF  THE  VALLEY,  THE  MAJOR  OF  THE  KETTLE-DRUM, 
THE  MARTYR'S  RETURN,  ETC. 

ILLUSTRATIONS  BY 
PERCIVAL    AND    LILLIAN    WELLS 


WANTAGH.  NEW  YORK 

BARTLETT  PUBLISHING  COMPANY 

1916 


COPYRIGHT,  1916 

BY 
BARTLETT  PUBLISHING  COMPANY 


Upon  the  sunny  shores  of  Galilee 

And  on  the  sparkling  waters  of  the  lake, 

Thou  didst  once  preach  and  deep  communion  take 

With  Father  and  thy  Children — by  the  sea: 

'Ye  who  are  weary,  burdened,  come  to  me 

And  with  me  of  the  Bread  of  Life  partake, 

Which  I  have  broken  for  your  spirits'  sake; 

The  Lord  grant  you  the  gift  of  charity.' 

O  Jesus,  son  of  God  and  man  divine, 

Who  fillest  human  hearts  with  tender  love 

And  zeal  for  living  pure,  kind  and  upright, 

Come  unto  me  and  swell  this  breast  of  mine 

With  holy  inspiration  from  above, 

And  passion  for  thy  Soul's  infinite  light. 


PREFACE 

HPHIS  book  has  been  written  with  a  twofold  pur- 
•*•  pose:  that  of  showing  what  a  large  part  of  the 
English  Bible  (illustrated  by  the  Gospels)  is  poetry 
as  it  stands;  and  of  presenting  to  the  public  another 
view  of  the  Son  of  Man — perhaps  in  some  ways  sim 
ilar  to  those  already  expressed,  and  perhaps  entirely 
different.  One  does  not  tire  of  reading  about  Jesus; 
and  by  studying  various  books  about  him  and  his 
work  one  is  able  to  clarify  and  increase  one's  own 
knowledge  of  him. 

Let  no  man,  even  the  most  devout  and  conserva 
tive  Christian,  take  offense  at  the  certain  privileges 
which  have  been  used  herein,  for  everything  has  been 
done  with  an  attitude  of  sincere  reverence — with  the 
utmost  admiration  and  love  for  Jesus  of  Nazareth, 
his  memory,  and  his  living  power,  which  exercises 
such  a  tremendous  part  in  the  thought  and  the  activ 
ity  of  the  world  today. 

The  Gospels  have  been  drawn  from  so  extensively 
that  it  seems  hardly  worth  while  to  use  quotation 
marks  or  to  make  acknowledgment  in  each  instance 
where  the  Biblical  material  has  been  borrowed :  either 
the  Bible  is  familiar  to  the  reader,  or  else  it  is  within 
reach. 


INTRODUCTION 

¥  N  previous  days  the  syllable  was  used  as  the  unit 
•*•  of  verse  more  than  was  the  accent.  For  example, 
Chaucer's  Prologue,  Canterbury  Tales : 

"Wei  nyne  and  twenty  in  a  companye, 
Of  sundry  folk,  by  aventure  y-falle — ," 

which  smacks  of  French  versification  with  all  the 
monotony  of  its  accentless  flow  of  twelve  and  thir 
teen  syllables.  Nowadays  such  continuous  artificial 
ity  is  well-nigh  unendurable.  Much  more  beautiful 
sounds  Shakespeare's 

"This  bud  of  love,  by  summer's  ripening  breath, 
May  prove  a  beauteous  flower  when  next  we  meet," 

(Romeo  and  Juliet) 

which  has  five  accents  rather  than  just  so  many 
syllables.  One  reason  why  the  Greek  and  Latin 
epics — Homer  and  Virgil — are  so  grand  is  be 
cause  in  their  verse  there  was  no  monotony:  dactyls, 
which  are  the  basis  of  the  meter,  are  varied  with 
spondees  (and  trochees,  seldom).  Thus: 

"Menin  aeide,  thea,  Peleiadeo  Axileos 
oulomenen,  e  muri'  Axaiois  alge'  etheken" 

(Iliad); 
and 

"Arma  virumque  cano,  Troiae  qui  primus  ab  oris 
Italiam  fato  profugus  Laviniaque  venit" 

(Aeneid). 


Rhythm  will  stand  two  unaccented  syllables  with 
every  accented  one,  as  can  plainly  be  seen  in  the 
above  quotations;  three  unaccented  syllables  together 
destroys  the  flow  of  rhythm,  so  two  may  be  taken  both 
as  allowable  and  as  the  limit.  Therefore  we  have 
kept  in  mind  accent  rather  than  syllable  as  the  unit, 
and  have  permitted  ourselves  to  use  either  the  iambic, 
which  is  the  standard  (the  line  is  supposedly  un- 
rhymed  iambic  pentameter),  or  the  anapaest,  which 
is  a  substitution,  at  will;  and  other  substitutions,  as 
the  trochee  and  dactyl,  when  their  effect  is  deemed 
more  desirable.  We  confess  that  our  verse  may  be 
a  bit  rough  in  places,  but  better  so  than  sickeningly 
smooth.  Monotony  is  the  curse  of  verse!  We  could, 
if  we  wished,  have  made  our  lines  as  smooth  as  those 
polished  writers  whose  attempts  at  poetry  (too  often 
they  partly  succeeded)  trouble  him  who  reads  as  well 
as  censure  him  who  wrote. 

One  thing  must  be  noticed  particularly:  since  no 
thought  ends  naturally  at  the  close  of  each  line,  we 
have  very  often  run  a  line  over  into  the  next  infor 
mally,  in  order  to  make  the  reading  pleasant,  thus: 
'  "Who  is  my  mother  ?  behold,  who  are  my  brethren  ?" 
Stretching  forth  his  hand  toward  his  disciples — '. 


If  the  second  line  were  written  immediately  after  the 
first  (as  of  course  it  is  read),  the  last  syllable  of 
'brethren,'  which  is  unaccented,  forms  the  first  part 
of  the  iambic  foot  whose  second  part,  the  accented 
syllable,  is  'stretch — ,'  and  so  it  goes.  This  is  en 
tirely  allowable  by  the  rules  of  versification  (which 
fortunately  were  never  set  forth  by  poets,  who  have 
seldom  any  other  guide  than  their  ear  and  intuition, 
and  which  must  be  disregarded  whenever  the  effect 
makes  it  so  desirable),  since  an  unaccented  syllable 
may  be  dropped  anywhere  in  the  verse  without 
changing  it  from  pentameter,  or  can  be  added  wher 
ever  there  are  not  two  together  already.  Of  course 
once  in  a  great  while  three  unaccented  syllables  might 
exist,  but  that  is  forcing  the  rhythm  beyond  its  bounds. 
The  standards  of  all  poetry,  as  well  as  music,  go  back 
finally  to  and  exist  primarily  in  the  physiological 
structure  of  the  ear. 

Therefore  pardon  the  roughness  of  our  verse  if 
you  notice  it;  and  if  you  do  not  notice  it,  enjoy  it. 
An  epic  is  like  rhythmical  prose,  not  carefully  studied 
or  spontaneous  bursts  of  perfect  lyricism,  since  it 
deals  mainly  with  objective  narration.  After  all  it 
is  the  result  that  counts. 


When  'The  Son  of  Man"  was  a  little  over  half 
done,  I  took  it  to  Prof.  Hugh  Black,  author  of 
"Friendship"  and  other  remarkable  books,  and  asked 
him  whether  he  would  kindly  read  it  and  give  me 
his  frank  opinion  about  it,  especially  about  the  tak 
ing  over  of  so  much  material  from  the  Evangelists 
instead  of  inventing  fiction  of  my  own  about  the 
Son  of  Man  and  his  heroic  career.  He  reported  that 
he  did  not  mind  the  roughness  of  the  meter,  found 
no  fault  with  the  borrowing  from  the  Bible,  and  liked 
it  in  every  way  except  my  having  Jesus  fall  in  love 
with  Mary  Magdalene.  That,  he  said,  did  not  seem 
to  be  consistent  with  the  character  of  Jesus  as  he 
imagined  it. 

Now  I  differ  strongly  with  Hugh  Black  on  this 
point.  Jesus  was  a  genius  of  the  first  water — 
strong,  vigorous,  virile,  passionate,  quick,  temper- 
some,  excitable,  ambitious,  idealistic  and  affectionate. 
What  was  more  natural  than  that  he  should  fall  in 
love,  while  still  a  youth  with  hot  blood  flowing  tem 
pestuously  through  Semitic  veins  and  arteries,  with 
a  beautiful  woman,  perhaps  older  than  himself,  whose 
tendency  toward  dissoluteness  had  not  yet  appeared? 
He  was  an  artist  and  a  poet;  and  such  a  man  is 


never  drawn  toward  unsexed  females  thin  of  body 
and  spirit,  but  prefers  full  curves  and  physical  beauty, 
especially  in  the  early  days  when  manhood  comes 
with  a  rush  like  a  tempest. 

It  might  well  be  that  Mary  had  no  thought  of  being 
loose  in  those  days  when  Jesus  first  loved  her,  but  was 
driven  to  many  loves  by  the  loss  of  that  one  great 
love  which  towered  above  all  loves,  endeavoring  to 
fill  the  vacant  place  in  her  heart,  yet  always  in  vain. 
It  might  be — but  we  had  best  cast  no  reflections  on 
the  character  of  a  great  prophet;  only  let  us  remem 
ber  what  Mohamet,  a  great  prophet  and  moral  re 
former,  did  when  the  woman  he  loved  so  much  died, 
that  seldom  can  a  man  practice  what  he  preaches, 
and  that  intercourse  with  a  person  one  devoutly  loves 
is  by  far  not  the  worst  fault  in  the  world — it  may  be 
even  a  virtue,  judged  by  God's  highest  standards ! 
We  laugh  at  society's  hypocritical  boundaries,  al 
though  we  find  it  best  in  the  long  run  to  follow  some 
of  them. 

However,  it  is  natural  for  a  Presbyterian  to  be 
more  circumspect  in  his  opinions  about  great  men 
than  must  those  of  less  primitive  and  more  advanced, 


less  artificial  and  more  natural,  less  imaginative  and 
more  useful  religious  ideas. 

We  are  surely  grateful  to  Prof.  Black  for  his 
criticism,  and  hope  that  he  will  some  day  become 
reconciled  to  the  viewpoint  presented  in  "The  Son 
of  Man." 


Xlll 


LIST  OF  ILLUSTRATIONS 

Jesus  as  he  may  have  looked  when  a  youth     .     Frontispiece 

Page 

The    Magi .        ...  12 

Jesus  with  his  nurse   (his  mother)       .         ,         ...  17 

The  young  reformer  in  his  father's  arms     ...  19 

Nazareth   Spring   .        .        .        .        .        .        .        .  25 

The   Sea  of  Galilee       .      '  *  - 32 

Jesus  and   Mary   Magdalene 41 

Jerusalem 52 

Mary  Magdalene  entertaining  Jesus      ....  58 

The  great  Jew,  with  companions,  in  a  storm       .        .  73 

The  trinity  in  Cedars  of   Lebanon       .         .         .         .  85 

The   Prodigal    Son         .         .         .         .      -  •.         .         .  94 
Bethlehem    Market-place        .               •  .        .         .         .114 

Jordan   River          .         . 120 

A  study  of  the  Son  of  Man 136 

On  the  cross,  with  the  Magdalene  near       ...  148 


And  mightily,  for  the  sins  of  the  people  were  many, 
And  Jahweh  God  of  Hosts  was  very  angry 
Against  them  for  their  sins.     But  merciful 
Jehovah  was — yea,  more  than  their  deserts, 
And  by  the  seers  proclaimed  the  coming  of  One 
Who  would  reveal  to  them  the  way  of  Truth. 
Thus  spake  they,  filled  with  the  spirit  of   God  the 

•  Lord : — 

"Behold,  in  Zion  a  corner  stone  is  laid, 
A  precious  corner  stone,  a  sure  foundation ; 
The  evils  of  Israel  shall  be  off-scourged, 
Their  hypocrisies  shall  come  to  naught,  their  lies 
Be  wiped  away  with  blood,  and  falsehoods  ended ; 
Their  whoredoms  shall  be  cut  out  with  the  sword, 
And  death  will  take  the  place  of  fornications ; 
Idolatry  shall  cease  in  the  high  places, 
The  abominations  of  Israel  be  put  down ; 
No  longer  shall  the  wealthy  sell  the  poor 
For  a  pair  of  shoes ;  oppression  and  violence 
Shall  be  forced  down  the  bellies  of  the  wicked. 
The  smoky  sacrifices  shall  avail 
No  more,  for  they  are  but  a  covering 
Of  pestilential  sins  and  vilenesses. 
Israel's  leprosy  has  lived  too  long, 


And  her  flesh  is  too  corrupt  —  the  vultures  shall 

have  it. 

But  hope  there  is  for  earnest  and  humble  men 
Who  wish  for  life,  and  verily  they  shall  find  it. 
Give  heed  to  the  voice  of  the  Lord:  as  clay  in  the 

hand 

Of  the  potter,  so  are  the  puny  children  of  men; 
Like  grass  in  the  forest-fire  are  they  consumed 
Within  their  time — three  score  of  years  and  ten. 
For  them  the  stars  of  heaven  shall  cease  to  shine, 
The  sun  be  dark,  and  the  full-moon  have  no  light. 
Who  can  stand  against  the  laws  of  God? 
Seek  the  way  of  the  Lord  while  he  may  be  found, 
For  out  of  the  fruitful  rod  of  Jesse's  tree 
Shall  grow  a  flower,  and  out  of  its  roots  a  branch. 
And  he  shall  be  called  Wonderful,  The  Prince 
Of  Peace,  the  mighty  Counsellor;  and  the  people 
Who  dwelt  in  darkness  shall  see  a  shining  light, 
And  their  joy  shall  be  increased.     For  the  spirit  of 

God 

Shall  rest  upon  him — the  spirit  of  understanding, 
Of  wisdom  and  might,  of  fear  and  worship  and  love 
Of  God  the  Absolute,  creator  of  heaven 


And  earth.     He  shall  judge  the  poor  with  righteous 
ness, 
And  govern  the  rich  with  strength;  he  shall  teach 

the  nations 
To  beat  their  swords   into  plows,   and   to  pruning- 

hooks 

Their  bloody  spears,  for  men  shall  live  in  peace, 
And  wars  shall  cease.    The  wolf  shall  dwell  with  the 

lamb, 
The  leopard  lie  down  with  the  sheep,  and  the  young 

lion 

That  roared  for  prey  with  the  fading  and  the  calf. 
And  the  earth  shall  be  full  of  the  knowledge  of  the 

Lord. 
Tho'  the  Prince  the  Messiah  be  scorned  and  rejected 

of  men, 

A  man  of  sorrows,  acquainted  with  grief,  despised, 
Afflicted  to  carry  our  sorrows  and  bear  our  grief, 
Wounded  for  our  transgressions  and  bruised  for  our 

sins, — 

He  shall  bind  the  broken-hearted,  free  the  captive, 
And  open  the  prisons  to  them  that  are  scourged  and 

bound ; 
Comfort  them  that  mourn,  give  beauty  for  ashes — 


Even  as  Spring  gives  beauty  to  the  Year, 

And  gather  the  nations  to  see  the  glory  of  God. 

The  blind  shall  see  and  they  that  were  lame  shall 

walk." 
Thus  spoke  the  prophets,  in  whom  the  spirit  had 

come. 
And  behold,  there  was  a  man,  whose  name  was 

John, 

Who  came  to  bear  a  witness  to  the  Light, 
The  Light  of  Jesus  Christ,  that  men  might  love 
And  have  an  understanding  in  their  heart. 

Now  in  the  time  of  Herod,  King  of  Judaea, 
There  lived  a  certain  priest  called  Zacharias, 
Abijah's  course,  whose  wife  Elisabeth 
Was  a  daughter  of  Aaron;  and  tho'  they  both  were 

blameless, 

Righteously  walking  in  all  the  commandments  of  God, 
They  had  no  child,  for  Elisabeth  was  barren 
And  well  advanced  in  years ;  but  it  came  to  pass, 
That  an  angel  of  God  appeared  to  Zacharias 
As  he  was  burning  incense  in  the  temple, 
And  he  had  fear,  for  the  light  about  the  angel 
Was  very  bright ;  and  the  spirit  seemed  to  say, 
"Fear  not,  O  Zacharias — thy  prayer  is  heard, 


For  Elisabeth  thy  wife  shall  bear  a  son 

And  name  him  John.    He  shall  be  great  before 

The  eyes  of  God,  and  men  shall  rejoice  at  his  birth. 

The  spirit  and  pow'r  of  Elias  shall  be  with  him 

And  give  him  strength  to  turn  the  foolish  folk 

Unto  the  wisdom  of  the  just,  and  prepare 

The  people  for  the  coming  of  the  Messiah. 

I  am  the  angel  Gabriel,  who  come 

From  God.   Until  that  time  shalt  thou  be  dumb." 

Thus  spoke  the  messenger,  and  disappeared. 

Behold!    Elisabeth  conceived,  and  hid 
Herself,  pleased  that  she  should  be  with  child. 

Now  the  angel  Gabriel,  when  Elisabeth 
Had  carried  her  child  six  months,  came  down  from 

heaven 

Unto  the  house  of  the  virgin  Mary,  who  dwelt 
In  Nazareth  of  Galilee,  espous'd 
To  a  man  named  Joseph,   descended    from   David's 

line; 
And  when  the  angel  came  to  her,  he  said : — 

"Blessed  art  thou,  O  Mary,  among  women; 
For  thou  hast  a  mighty  work  to  do  on  earth. 
Behold,  thou  shalt  conceive  and  be  with  child; 
And  bear  a  son,  whose  name  shall  be  called  JESUS. 


He  shall  be  great — a  son  of  the  highest  God, 
And  Son  of  Man;  of  his  Kingdom  there  is  no  end. 
Thy  cousin  Elisabeth  hath  too  conceived, 
And  soon  will  bear  a  son.    Before  Jahweh, 
What  is  impossible?"    And  he  departed. 

It  came  to  pass  as  Gabriel  had  said, 
That  Elisabeth  was  delivered,  and  bore  a  son; 
And  there  was  great  rejoicing;  and  on  the  eighth 
Day  they  did  come  to  circumcise  the  child; 
And  because  the  mother  and  father  so  proclaimed, 
They  named  him  John.    Then  Zacharias  opened 
His  mouth,  and  prophesying  praised  the  Lord, 
'Whereby  the  dayspring  from  on  high  hath  come 
To  give  to  them  that  sit  in  darkness  light 
And  deliver  them  from  the  fear  of  the  shadow  of 

death, 
And  guide  their  feet  unto  the  way  of  peace.' 

So  John  grew  up,  waxing  strong  in  spirit, 
And  strong  in  body.    But  he  went  to  the  desert, 
Leaving  the  cities  and  towns,  to  be  at  peace 
With  Nature,  Man  and  God,  for  in  the  cities 
Evil  was  everywhere,  and  he  had  met 
A  sect  of  men  who  called  themselves  Essenes, 
Who  dwelt  apart,  communicating  not 


Especially  with  women,  nor  sacrificing 

With  animals,  since  their  best  sacrifice 

Was  reverence.    They  made  no  weapons  of  war, 

Nor  laid  by  gold,  nor  traded  like  the  hucksters. 

They  had  no  slaves,  for  slavery  to  them 

Was  violating  the  holy  laws  of  Nature, 

Which  makes  men  free.   The  foolishness  of  empty 

Philosophy  and  logic  they  did  with  care 

Avoid,  as  being  bad;  but  natural 

Philosophy  and  ethical  conduct  they  studied; 

Read  the  scriptures ;  practised  piety, 

And  followed  virtue,  cleanliness  and  wisdom. 

They  had  no  oaths,  trusted  in  Providence, 

And  treated  fellow  men  with  kindliness. 

These  men  John  met,  therefore,  and  on  his  life 
They  had  an  influence;   so  he  did  spurn 
The  priestly  office,  which  by  inheritance 
Was  his,  for  the  mightiness  of  prophecy 
Had  come  upon  him,  with  powers  of  the  spirit. 
He  lived  in  the  wilderness,  robed  in  a  cloak 
Made  out  of  camel's  hair,  loose  fitting,  rough, 
With  a  girdle  of  leather  wound  about  his  loins ; 
His  food  was  wretched  locusts  and  wild  honey. 

In  the  fifteenth  year  of  the  reign  of  Tiberius, 

8 


The  Caesar,  Pilate  being  governor, 

And  Annas  and  Caiaphas  the  highest  priests, 

Behold  there  came  the  angel  Gabriel 

To  John  in  the  wilderness,  and  John  did  marvel, 

And  was  afraid,  so  glorious  seemed  the  spirit. 

He  said  no  word,  but  beckoned  with  his  hand 

Toward  the  Jordan  country,  and  blessed  him  there. 

So  John  went  to  the  River  Jordan,  and  preached, 

Saying,  "Turn  ye,  O  people,  turn  ye  now, 

The  Kingdom  is  at  hand ;  prepare  the  way 

Of  the  Lord,  make  straight  his  paths,  for  every  vale 

Shall  be  filled  up,  and  the  mountains  be  brought  low ; 

The  crooked  shall  be  straight,  and  the  rough  ways 

smooth." 

And  many  people  did  he  there  baptize. 
Many  sought  him  from  Jerusalem, 
And  all  Judaea,  and  the  region  near  the  river, 
And  were  baptized  by  John,  confessing  their  sins. 

But  when  he  saw  some  of  the  Pharisees 
And  Sadducees  among  the  other  folk, 
He  was  anangered,  and  cried,  "Who  hath  warned  you 
To  flee  the  wrath  to  come?  The  ax  is  laid 
Unto  the  root  of  the  tree;   and  every  stock 
That  beareth  not  good  fruit  shall  be  hewn  down!" 


The  people  said,  "What  shall  we  do?"   He  cried, 
"Let  him  that  hath  two  coats  give  one  away." 

Then  too  came  publicans  to  be  baptized 
(Who  were  the  tax-collectors  for  the  king) 
And  asked  of  John,  "Master,  what  shall  we  do?" 
He  answered,  "Take  no  more  than  what  is  due." 

The  soldiers  likewise  demanded  of  him,  saying, 
"What  shall  we  do?"     He  said,  "Do  violence 
Unto  no  man;  and  be  content  with  your  wages." 

The    people    wondered,    and    mused    within    their 

hearts 

Of  John,  whether  he  were  the  Christ  or  not. 
He  answered,  saying,  "I  baptize  with  water; 
But  another  mightier  than  I  will  come, 
Whose  shoes  I  am  unworthy  to  unloose: 
He  shall  baptize  you  with  the  Holy  Ghost, 
And  he  will  gather  the  wheat  into  his  garner." 

Now  the  birth  of  Jesus  Christ  was  on  this  wise: 
The  angel  Gabriel  appeared  to  Joseph, 
And  said,  "Joseph,  thou  son  of  David,  fear  not, 
For  Mary  thy  wife  shall  bear  a  son,  whose  name 
Shall  be  called  JESUS,  and  too  IMMANUEL, 
For  he  shall  strip  the  people  of  their  sins." 

But  it  came  to  pass,  those  days,  that  a  decree 

10 


Went  forth  from  Caesar  Augustus,  that  all  the  world 

Be  taxed.     So  every  one  went  to  his  own 

City;  and  Joseph  went  from  Nazareth 

Into  Judaea,  unto  the  city  of  David 

Called  Bethlehem  (because  he  was  of  the  house 

And  lineage  of  David),  to  pay  his  tax 

With  Mary,  who  was  with  child.     Behold,  while  they 

Were  there,  the  days  of  Mary's  delivery     • 

Did  come,  and  she  brought  forth  her  first-born  son. 

She   wrapped   him   in   swaddling-clothes,   and   laid 

him  down 

In  a  manger,  because  there  was  no  room  for  them 
In  the  inn.     And  all  the  angels  were  glad  and  re 
joiced 
That  Jesus  was  born,  and  ministered  unto  him. 

And  there  were  shepherds,  abiding  in  the  field, 
In  that  same  country,  keeping  watch  by  night 
Over  their  flocks;  and  behold!  the  archangel 
Gabriel  descended  unto  them, 
Shining  bright  with  the  glory  of  the  Lord, 
And  they  were  sore  afraid,  but  Gabriel  said: — 
"Fear  not,  O  shepherds,  for  behold  I  bring 
Good  tidings  of  great  joy  to  all  people. 
This  day  in  the  city  of  David  is  born  to  you 

11 


A  saviour,  which  is  Jesus  Christ.     This  sign 

Shall  be — the  babe  is  lying  in  a  manger, 

Wrapped  in  its  swaddling-clothes.     Seek  ye  the  babe. 

Not  for  the  sake  of  the  proud  and  haughty  rulers 

Of  Israel  has  Jesus  come  to  live, 

For  they  are  cursed  in  their  self-righteousness, 

But  for  the  sake  of  men  like  you,  and  all 

Who  humbly  seek  for  higher,  nobler  things." 

And  suddenly  there  appeared  a  multitude 
Of  spirits  and  angels  praising  God,  singing, 
"Glory  to  God  in  the  highest,  peace  on  earth, 
Good-will  toward  men : — the  Son  of  Man  is  born !" 

The  host  of  spirits  disappeared,  and  then 
The  shepherds,  astonished  by  the  happening. 
Said  unto  one  another,  "Let  us  go 
At  once  to  Bethlehem  and  see  this  thing 
Which,  come  to  pass,  has  been  made  known  to  us." 

So  they  set  out  with  haste,  and  found  Mary 
And  Joseph,  and,  lying  in  the  manger,  the  babe. 
And  when  they  saw,  they  spread  abroad  the  news 
Which  had  been  told  to  them  concerning  the  child ; 
And  those  that  heard  it  wondered  in  their  hearts. 

Mary  pondered,  knowing  that  her  son 
Should  become  great,  and  bring  joy  to  the  world. 

12 


And  the  shepherds  returned,  glorifying  and  praising 
God  for  all  the  things  revealed  to  them. 

When  the  child  was  eight  days  old  he  was  named 

Jesus, 

And  when  the  days  of  Mary's  purification 
Had  been  accomplished,  they  brought  to  Jerusalem 
Jesus,  and  him  presented  unto  the  Lord, 
Offering  up  a  pair  of  turtle-doves. 
It  happened  that  Simeon,  a  man  of  Jerusalem, 
And  just,  was  waiting  for  the  consolation 
Of  Israel;  and  he,  thus  spirit-guided, 
Came  to  the  temple,  and  took  the  child  in  his  arms, 
Saying,  "O  God,  let  me  depart  in  peace, 
For  I  have  seen  the  glory  of  all  people — 
A  light  to  lighten  the  Gentiles  and  Israel!" 

And  Joseph  and  Mary  marveled  at  these  things. 

Now  at  the  time  when  Jesus  was  born — the  days 
Of  Herod  the  king — in  Bethlehem,  that  night 
A  wonderful  star  appeared  to  three  Wise  Men 
In  the  East — Melchior,  Caspar  and  Balthasar, — 
The  first,  a  Magus  of  India;  the  second, 
Of  Egypt;  and  Balthasar,  the  third,  of  Persia. 
They  found  by  astrological  calculations 
That  in  Judaea  a  Prince  of  men  was  born; 

13 


And,  getting  ready,  they  hastened  on  a  journey 
To  find  the  new-born  child  and  worship  him, 
Carrying  with  them  gifts  of  gold,  and  myrrh, 
And  frankincense.     And  lo!  when  evening  came, 
Each  night  as  they  were  journeying,  a  spirit 
Appeared  within  the  heavens  like  a  star — 
The  angel  Michael. — Unto  the  Mount 
Of  Sinai  led  he  them  together  there; 
And  when  the  Magi  beheld  the  one  the  others, 
Greatly  they  did  rejoice  and  make  them  glad, 
For  verily  they  knew  it  was  the  truth. 

In  company  they  then  continued  on, 
Upon  the  way,  led  now  by  one  bright  star ; 
But  when  they  came  to  the  country  of  Judaea, 
It  disappeared ;  and  knowing  not  what  town 
Or  city  was  the  place  where  the  great  child  was, 
They  traveled  unto  Jerusalem,  and  there 
Demanded,  "Where  is  the  child  that  has  been  born, — 
That  is  to  be  a  mighty  Counsellor, 
The  Prince  of  Peace,  and  ruler  of  the  Jews? 
For  in  the  east  we  have  beheld  his  star, 
And  we  have  journeyed  hither  to  worship  him." 

But  when  the  king  heard  this,  he  was  disturbed, 
And  all  Jerusalem  with  him.     So  Herod 

14 


Did  summon  together  all  the  chiefest  priests 
And  too  the  scribes  of  the  people,  to  ask  of  them 
Where  this  great  child  was  born  and  where  he  dwelt, 
(Since  now  it  was  two  years  after  his  birth 
In  Bethlehem).     They  answered  Herod  thus: — 
"  Tis  written  by  the  prophet,  Thou  Bethlehem, 
In  the  land  of  Judah,  art  not  the  least  among 
The  princes,  for  out  of  thee  shall  come  a  Prince 
Who  shall  be  Governor  of  Israel'." 

Then  Herod,  when  he  had  summoned  privily 
The  three  Magi,  inquired  diligently 
Of  them  what  time  the  bright  star  had  appeared. 
They  answered  him,  "About  two  years  ago." 
So  he  commanded  them  to  Bethlehem, 
Saying,  "Go  search  for  the  young  child  diligently, 
And  when  ye  have  found  him,  bring  me  word  again, 
That  I  may  come  and  also  worship  him." 

Not  knowing  what  intentions  Herod  had, 
The  Wise  Men  did  depart;  and,  lo,  the  star 
Which  they  had  seen  appeared  to  them  again, 
And  went  before  them  till  it  came  and  stood 
Above  the  house  where  the  young  child  Jesus  was, — 
For  Joseph  and  Mary  had  stayed  in  Bethlehem. 

So  they  rejoiced  with  exceeding  joy,  and  came 

15 


Into  the  house,  and  saw  the  child  with  Mary 
His  mother;   and  falling  down  they  worshiped  Jesus, 
And  opened  for  him  their  costly  treasures  of  gold 
And  frankincense  and  myrrh ;  and  they  blessed  Jesus, 
Because  he  was  to  be  the  Son  of  Man. 

They  did  depart  into  their  own  country 
Therefore  another  way,  because  the  angel 
Michael  appeared  to  them  and  said 
(He  came  by  a  dream  at  night)  that  they  must  not 
Return  to  Herod,  who  had  an  evil  mind. 

Likewise  the  angel  spoke  to  Joseph  and  Mary 
By  dream,  saying  to  them,  "Arise  and  take 
With  you  the  child,  and  flee  away  to  Egypt, 
And  stay  ye  there  until  I  bring  you  word: 
For  Herod  seeks  the  boy  that  he  may  kill  him." 

So  they  arose,  and  took  the  child  by  night, 
And  secretly  departed  unto  Egypt, 
Remaining  there  until  the  death  of  Herod. 

Herod  was  very  wroth  when  he  saw  the  Magi 
Mocked  his  authority,  and  sent  forth  men 
To  slay  the  children  that  lived  in  Bethlehem, 
And  all  the  region  round  about,  from  two 
Years  old  and  younger,  according  to  the  time 
The  Wise  Men  had  determined.     Then  indeed 


16 


From  an  oil  painting  by  P.  &  L.  Wells] 

JESUS    WITH     HIS    NURSE     (HIS    MOTHER). 


Arose  a  dreadful  weeping  and  lamentation — 

The  mourning  of  sorrowful  mothers  who  were  bereft 

Of  the  babes  they  loved,  and  would  not  be  comforted, 

Wailing  in  bitter  anguish.     Then  was  fulfilled 

The  mournful  prophecy  of  Jeremiah: 

'In  Rama  Rachel  wept  for  her  children,' — ah! 

And  there  were  many  broken  hearts  in  Judah. 

But  when  Herod  was  dead,  behold  an  angel 
Appeared  to  Joseph,  in  a  dream,  in  Egypt, 
Seeming  to  say,  "Arise,  take  thou  thy  child 
And  Mary  his  mother,  and  go  to  Israel : 
For   they   which   sought   the   young   child's   life   are 
dead." 

So  he  arose,  and  took  the  child  and  Mary, 
And  came  again  to  the  land  of  Israel. 
But  much  he  feared,  because  that  Archelaus 
The  son  of  Herod  was  ruling  in  his  stead, 
To  return  to  Judaea;  therefore,  warned  by  angels 
By  night  in  a  dream,  he  turned  toward  Galilee; 
And  there  in  Nazareth,  his  native  town, 
He  stopped  to  dwell.     Thus  were  the  prophecies 
Fulfilled, — "He  shall  be  called  a  Nazarene." 

Jesus  grew  tall,  and  waxed  strong  in  spirit, 
Filled  with  wisdom :  the  grace  of  God  was  upon  him. 

17 


Now  it  happened  that  Joseph  and  Mary  went  each 

year 

To  the  feast  of  the  Passover  at  Jerusalem; 
And  when  Jesus  was  twelve  years  old,  they  went 
According  to  the  manner  of  the  feast 
Up  to  Jerusalem  to  celebrate; 
But  lo!   when  they  had  been  there  all  the  days 
And  started  to  return,  the  boy  Jesus 
Tarried  behind  in  the  city,  and  Joseph  and  Mary 
Knew  not  of  it,  since  they  supposed  that  he 
Was  with  them  in  the  company,  and  missed 
Him  not  till  they  had  journeyed  for  a  day. 
So,  when  they  found  him  not  among  their  friends 
And  kin,  unto  Jerusalem  they  turned 
Again,  seeking  Jesus.     It  came  to  pass 
That  three  days  afterward  they  found  the  boy 
Within  the  temple,  sitting  among  the  doctors, 
Hearing  them  and  asking  of  them  questions; 
And  all  that  listened  to  him  were  astonished 
Both  at  his  understanding  and  replies. 

When  they  beheld  him,  they  were  much  amazed. 
His  mother  said  unto  him,  "Alas,  my  son, 
Why  hast  thou  treated  us  this  way?    Behold, 
Thy  father  and  I  have  sought  thee  sorrowing" — 

18 


From  an  oil  painting  by  P.  &•  L.  Wells] 

THE   YOUNG   REFORMER   IN    HIS    FATHER'S    ARMS. 


For  verily  they  loved  Jesus  their  son. 

But  he  replied,  "How  is  it  that  ye  sought  me? 
Wist  ye  not  that  I  must  be  about 
My   Father's  business?"     But  they  comprehended 
Not  the  saying  which  he  spake  to  them. 

So,  coming  down  with  them,  he  did  return 
To  Nazareth,  and  was  obedient; 
And  all  his  sayings  Mary  kept  in  her  heart. 

Thus  Jesus  grew  in  wisdom  and  in  stature, 
In  favor  with  God  and  man. 

As  was  the  custom  with  the  Jews,  Jesus 
Was  taught  his  trade,  becoming  a  carpenter 
And  joiner,  making  plows  and  yokes  and  many 
Other  things  of  wood  beside  the  bench. 
He  developed  wonderfully  his  physical  power, 
And  gladly  did  his  work.     So  long  as  Joseph 
His  father  lived,  he  had  much  time  besides 
For  study;  so  he  learned  the  holy  writings — 
The  ancient  histories,  and  laws,  and  prophets. 
But  when  his  father  died  (he  became  sad, 
Mourning  his  death)  he  often  had  to  work 
Into  the  evening,  and  had  less  time  for  thought, 
Except  for  meditation  at  his  bench. 
So  he  became  unhappy,  until  his  brother 

19 


Grew  old  enough  to  help;  and  often  then 
He  went  about  the  country  seeking  wood, 
And  visiting  the  husbandmen  who  needed 
Yokes  and  plows  and  beams.    He  loved  the  fields, 
In  which  the  grass  and  flowers  grew,  the  farms, 
Where  busy  planters  worked,  the  lake  and  sea 
In  which  the  fishers  cast  their  nets,  and  hills 
Which  brought  him  nearer  to  the  sky — whereon 
He  sat  sometimes  thinking  of  God  the  Father. 

One  day  behold!  it  happened,  when  the  young 
Carpenter  went  into  the  wilderness 
On  a  journey,  he  met  a  savage  mountain  lion 
Which  leaped  at  him  ferociously,  for  it 
Had  had  nothing  to  eat.     He  cried  for  help, 
And  tried  to  defend  himself  with  a  stout  stick 
That  he  was  carrying — for  he  was  very 
Strong.     The  Lord  did  not  allow  his  servant 
Thus  to  be  killed  before  his  time  so  young, 
For  as  it  came  to  pass,  his  cousin  John 
Was  near  at  hand,  gathering  locusts  and  honey 
For  food  (already  had  he  left  the  haunts 
Of  men)  and  came  running  unto  his  help, 
And  both  together  they  killed  the  hungry  lion. 

Then  John,  who  wore  a  ragged  cloak  and  girdle, 

20 


Demanded,  "Art  thou  not  Jesus,  son  of  Joseph, 
The  carpenter  of  Nazareth  who  died?" 

Jesus  replied,  "  'Tis  I — and  who  art  thou, 
O  holy  man,  for  verily  I  see 
Thou  dost  belong  to  God?     Blessed  be  thou, 
For  thou  hast  saved  me  from  this  roaring  lion." 

"I  am  thy  cousin,  son  of  Elisabeth 
And  Zacharias  the  priest  of  Abijah's  course, 
Who  have  for  dwelling-place  the  wilderness, 
Because  of  all  the  evils  in  the  towns. 
Behold,  just  now  I  found  a  honey-tree, 
Wherefrom  I  will  get  honey  for  my  food." 

Thus   answered   John,   and    straightway   they   em 
braced, 
Kissing  each  other's  cheek  for  very  joy. 

Then  they  sat  down  beneath  the  trees  and  ate 
Together  of  honey,  which  John  got  in  the  comb 
From  the  hollow  tree,  and  bread,  and  locusts,  dried, 
Which  John  took  with  him  in  a  pouch,  and  wine, 
That  Jesus  bore  in  a  flask.    When  they  were  done, 
John  turned  and  said, — 

"Dost  thou  not  plan  to  come 
Into  the  wilderness,  to  dwell  apart 
From  men,  who  are  but  masses  of  corruption? 

21 


For  has  it  not  been  written,  'Enter  the  rock, 
And  hide  thee  in  the  dust,  for  fear  of  the  Lord, 
And  for  the  glory  of  his  majesty? 
The  day  of  the  Lord  of  Hosts  shall  be  upon 
Every  one  that  is  proud  and  lofty,  and  too 
Of  high  degree,  for  he  shall  be  brought  low. 
The  loftiness  of  man  shall  be  bowed  down, 
And  the  haughtiness  of  men  shall  be  made  low; 
The  Lord  alone  that  day  shall  be  exalted. 
And  they  shall  go  away  to  holes  in  the  rocks, 
And  into  the  caves  of  the  earth  for  fear  of  the  Lord, 
And  for  the  glory  of  his  majesty, 
When  he  ariseth  terribly  to  shake 
The  earth;  and  man  shall  cast  his  silver  idols 
And  those  of  gold,  which  he  has  made  to  worship, 
Unto  the  moles  and  bats,  and  seek  the  clefts 
And  tops  of  ragged  rocks,  for  fear  of  God. 
Jerusalem  is  ruined  and  Judah  is  fallen, 
Because  their  tongues  and  doings  are  contrary 
To  the  laws  of  God.    They  cannot  hide  their  sins, 
Which  are  the  sins  of  Sodom.   Woe  to  their  souls, 
For  they  have  given  evil  to  themselves !'  " 
But  Jesus  answered,  saying, — 

"Verily, 

22 


It  is  a  beautiful  thing  to  live  with  men. 
Tis  written,  'Behold,  one  like  the  Son  of  Man 
Came  with  the  clouds  of  heaven  unto  the  Ancient 
Of  days ;  and  there  was  given  to  him  glory, 
Dominion  and  kingdom,  that  people,  languages 
And   Nations   should  be  his   servants ;    and  his   do 
minion 

Never  shall  pass  away  or  be  destroyed.' " 
John  answered  vehemently, — 

"The  strong  shall  be 

As  tow,  his  work  like  to  a  spark,  and  both 
Shall  burn  together,  and  none  shall  quench  them  out. 
Thus  saith  the  Lord,  'I  will  send  down  a  fire 
On  Judah,  which  shall  devour  the  palaces 
Of  Jerusalem ;  the  flight  shall  leave  the  swift, 
The  strong  shall  have  no  force,  nor  shall  the  mighty 
Deliver  himself.    For  they  know  not  to  do  right, 
Said  God,  the  Lord,  who  store  up  violence 
And  robbery  within  their  palaces. 
Woe  unto  the  wicked !   for  they  shall  eat 
The  fruit  of  their  own  doings.  Because  the  daughters 
Of  Zion  are  haughty,  and  walk  with  stretched-forth 

necks 
And  wanton  eyes,  mincing  as  they  go, 

23 


Therefore  the  Lord  will  smite  with  scabs  the  crowns 
Of  the  heads  of  the  daughters  of  Zion ;  their  secret 

parts 

Will  he  uncover.   And  he  will  take  away 
The  bravery  of  all  their  ornaments, — 
Their  chains,  and  bracelets,  mufflers,  bonnets,  rings, 
Headbands,  changeable  suits  of  apparel,  mantles, 
Wimples  and  crisping-pins,  their  glasses,  veils, 
Fine  linen  and  hoods.    And  it  shall  come  to  pass, 
Instead  of  sweet  perfume  there  shall  be  a  stink ; 
Instead  of  a  girdle  a  rent ;  instead  of  hair 
Well  set,  baldness;  instead  of  a  stomacher 
A  girding  of   sack-cloth;   and  burning  instead  of 

beauty. 

The  Lord  will  judge  the  ancients  of  his  people, 
And  princes  thereof :    for  they  have  robbed  the  vine 
yards, 

And  in  their  houses  is  the  spoil  of  the  poor !' " 
Jesus  rebuked  him,  saying, 

"Is  it  not  writ, 

'Let  the  wicked  forsake  his  way,  the  unrighteous  man 
His  thoughts;   and  let  him  return  unto  the  Lord, 
For  he  will  abundantly  pardon,  and  have  mercy. 
Ho,  every  one  that  thirsteth,  come  to  the  waters ; 

24 


Yea,  he  that  hath  no  money,  buy  and  eat; 
Buy  wine  and  milk  having  nor  money  nor  price. 
Why  spend  ye  money  for  that  which  is  not  bread? 
Your  labor  for  that  which  satisfieth  not? 
Hearken  to  me,  and  eat  ye  that  which  is  good, 
And  let  your  soul  delight  itself  in  fatness. 
And  all  thy  children  shall  be  taught  of  the  Lord, 
And  great  shall  be  the  peace  of  them  thy  children.' " 
Thus  they  conversed ;  and  when  at  last  they  parted 
One  from  the  other  John  said,  "Some  future  time, 
Canst  thou  not  come  hither  again,  sweet  cousin? 
For  I  have  love  for  thee.    The  spirit  of  God 
Thou  seemest  verily  to  have.    And  I, 
Perchance,  will  seek  thee  too  by  Nazareth, 
Outside  the  town,  or  near  the  River  Jordan?" 
Jesus  assented  gladly,  since  he  desired 
To  know  more  of  his  cousin  John,  this  man 
Who  scorned  the  evils  of  the  town,  and  knew 
The  scriptures,  and  traditions,  and  other  writings, 
And  feared  not  beast,  nor  man,  nor  even  Satan ; 
And  who,  although  avoiding  evil  cities, 
Still  loved  and  wished  to  help  his  fellow  men. 
He  seemed  to  be  a  prophet  come  again 
To  preach  repentance  and  the  love  of  God. 

25 


So   often   they   met,    and   became    most   steadfast 

friends, 

Like  Jonathan  and  David  in  times  of  old. 
And  the  spiritual  power  of  each  increased, — 
Just  as  the  coral  within  the  deep  blue  sea, 
Little  at  first,  but  branching  out  and  out 
By  new  additions,  until  at  last  is  formed 
A  mighty  rock — a  rising  reef — an  island 
On  which  weary  travelers  come  to  rest, 
And  find  not  only  shelter  but  fruits  and  flowers. 


26 


BOOK  II 

BEHOLD  one  day  the  angel  Gabriel 
Came  unto  Jesus  of  Nazareth  (while  he 
Was  working  at  his  bench,  making  some  chairs — 
But  at  that  hour  he  had  his  mind  on  God), 
And  laying  on  his  head  his  hand  he  said : — 

"Now  is  the  time  fulfilled  when  thou  no  more 
Shalt  fashion  chairs  and  other  things  of  wood, 
But  thou  art  called  of  God  to  be  His  son, 
That  thou  mayst  preach  the  Word  unto  the  people 
And  thus  reclaim  them  from  their  evil  ways, 
Which  are  not  pleasing  to  the  Lord  of  Hosts. 
Thou  hast  been  faithful  to  thy  family, 
But  now  thou  art  the  Son  of  Man ;  and  God 
Is  Father,  and  all  the  people  are  thy  brothers. 
The  wood  that  thou  shalt  cleave  henceforth  must  be 
The  Tree  of  Life,  whose  roots  are  in  the  earth, 
Whose  branches  grow  within  the  air  of  heaven, 
And  whose  fair  fruit  is  seed  of  God's  great  Kingdom, 
Which  is  not  far  away.    Give  heed,  give  heed! 

Beware  the  tempting  of  the  Evil  One, 

27 


Who  would  pluck  thee,  as  bunches  from  the  vine 
Are  plucked,  not  by  the  rightful  husbandman, 
But  by  the  thieves  who  enter  in  and  steal. 
Beware  of  Satan,  for  he  would  corrupt 
Thy  soul  with  evil  thoughts  and  evil  spirits, 
Not  otherwise  than  as  the  worm  corrupts 
The  maturing  apple,  making  it  vile  within, 
Though  fair  without  and  attractive  to  the  eye. 

Go,  get  thee  hence,  and  seek  thy  cousin  John, 
Him  who  baptizes  sinners  by  the  Jordan 
(For  at  this  time  John  had  commenced  his  work 
Of  calling  men  toward  God,  baptizing  them), 
Since  thus  it  is  ordained.    Blessed  be  thou 
Henceforth  for  evermore,  thou  son  of  man!" 
Thus  Gabriel  seemed  to  speak,  and  disappeared. 

So  Jesus  ceased  to  be  a  carpenter; 
He  left  his  family — his  mother  and  brethren, 
And  went  from  Nazareth  of  Galilee 
To  Jordan  unto  John,  to  be  baptized 
Of  him.     But  John  forbade  him,  saying, — "In  truth 
'Tis  I  have  need  to  be  baptized  of  thee, 
And  comest  thou  to  me  ?"    Then  Jesus  said 
In  answer, — "Suffer  it  to  be  so  now, 
For  thus  it  becometh  us  for  to  fulfill 

28 


All  righteousness."     And  so  he  suffered  him. 

And  Jesus,  when  he  was  baptized,  went  up 
Straightway  out  of  the  water;  and  lo!  the  heavens 
Opened  for  him,  and  Gabriel  descended, 
Blessing  him;  and  Jesus  heard  a  voice 
From  heaven,  saying,  "This  is  my  beloved 
Son,  in  whom  I  am  well  pleased." 

After  these  things  came  Jesus  and  his  disciples 
(For  unto  him  there  gathered  many  men, 
As  likewise  many  followed  John  the  Baptist 
To  hear  his  preaching,  which  was  of  a  prophet) 
Into  the  land  of  Judaea;  and  there  he  tarried 
With  them  and  baptized  many.    And  John  also 
Baptized  in  Aenon  near  to  Salim,  because 
There  was  much  water  there;  they  came  and  were 
Baptized :  for  John  was  not  yet  cast  in  prison. 

Then  there  arose  a  question  between  a  few 
Of  John's  disciples  and  the  Jews  concerning 
Purifying.     And  so  they  came  to  John, 
And  said  to  him, — 

"Rabbi,  he  that  was 

With  thee  beyond  the  Jordan,  to  whom  thou  bearest 
Witness,  behold,  the  same  baptizeth,  and  all 
Men  come  to  him." 

29 


John  answered,  saying  to  them, — 
"A  man  receiveth  nothing  except  it  be 
From  heaven  given  him.     Ye  bear  me  witness 
Yourselves  I  said  that  I  am  not  the  Christ, 
But  sent  before  him.     He  that  hath  the  bride — 
He  is  the  bridegroom;  but  his  friends  who  stand 
And  hear  his  voice  greatly  rejoice  thereof : 
So  this  my  joy  therefore  has  been  fulfilled. 

He  must  increase,  but  I,  decrease.    And  he 
That  believeth  the  Son  hath  everlasting  life." 

But  when  the  Pharisees  had  heard  that  Jesus 
Made  and  baptized  more  followers  than  John, 
He  left  Judaea  and  went  to  Galilee 
Again,  and  had  to  pass  thro'  Samaria. 
Then  cometh  he  to  Sychar,  near  the  ground 
That  Jacob  had  given  unto  Joseph  his  son. 

Now  Jacob's  well  was  there.     Jesus  therefore, 
Wearied  with  his  journey,  sat  thus  on  the  well. 
And  there  came  a  woman  of  Samaria 
To  draw  up  water.     Jesus  saith  to  her, 
"Give  me  to  drink"  (for  his  disciples  were  gone 
To  the   city   to  buy   some   meat).     Then   saith   the 

woman, — ~ 
"How  is  it  that  thou,  who  art  a  Jew,  dost  ask 

30 


A  drink  of  me,  who  am  a  Samaritan? 

For  the  Jews  deal  not  with  us  Samaritans." 

Jesus  replied,  "If  thou  didst  know  the  gift 
Of  God,  and  who  it  is  that  saith  to  thee, 
'Give  me  to  drink',  thou  wouldst  have  asked  of  him, 
And  he  would  have  given  thee  the  living  water." 

The  woman  saith  to  him,  "But,  sir,  thou  hast 
Nothing  with  which  to  draw,  and  the  well  is  deep. 
From  whence  hast  thou  that  living  water,  then? 
For  art  thou  greater  than  our  father  Jacob, 
Who  gave  to  us  the  well,  and  drank  thereof 
Himself,  and  his  children  and  cattle?" 

Jesus  said, — 

"Whosoever  drinketh  of  this  water 
Shall  thirst  again;  but  whosoever  drinketh 
The  water  that  I  give  him  shall  never  thirst; 
For  the  water  that  I  shall  give  shall  be  in  him 
A  well  springing  to  everlasting  life." 

The  woman  saith,  "Give  me  this  water,  sir, 
That  I  thirst  not,  neither  come  hither  to  draw." 

Jesus  replied,  "Summon  thy  husband  and  come 
Hither."    The  woman  answered  and  said,  "I  have 
No  husband."    Jesus  replied,  "Thou  hast  well  said, 
'I  have  no  husband' — thou  hast  had  five  husbands; 

31 


And  he  whom  them  hast  now  is  not  thy  husband. 

In  that  saidst  thou  most  truly."  Then  said  the  woman 

To  Jesus,  "Sir,  I  perceive  thou  art  a  prophet!" 

And  she  left  then  her  waterpot,  and  went 

Her  way  into  the  city  and  told  the  men 

About  the  wonderful  prophet  she  had  met. 

When  Jesus's  followers  returned,  he  said, — 
"Lo,  I  have  meat  to  eat  ye  know  not  of. 
Do  ye  not  say,  'Four  months,  and  then  the  harvest?' 
Behold,  I  say  to  you,  Lift  up  your  eyes, 
Look  on  the  fields,  for  they  are  white  already 
To  harvest.    He  that  reapeth  receiveth  wages, 
Gathering  fruit  unto  a  life  eternal: 
That  those  who  sow  and  reap  may  rejoice  together!" 

So  when  the  Samaritans  were  come  to  him, 
They  begged  him  to  tarry  with  them ;  and  he  abode 
Two  days,  and  then  went  into  Galilee. 
There  he  did  preach,  saying,  "The  time  is  come, 
And  the  Kingdom  is  at  hand.    Turn  ye,  turn  ye, 
And  believe  ye  the  good  news." 

His  fame  went  out 

Through  all  the  region  round  about  (Jesus 
Himself  did  testify  that  a  prophet  hath 
No  honor  within  his  own  country).     From  thence 

32 

. 


. 
O 


C/3 


H 
H 


He  came  to  Cana  of  Galilee,  to  a  feast, 

A  marriage.    The  mother  of  Jesus  was  there  also; 

And  when  they  needed  wine,  Jesus's  mother 

Said  unto  him,  "They  have  no  wine,  my  son." 

He  saith  to  her,  "Woman,  what  have  I 

To  do  with  thee  ?    Mine  hour  is  not  yet  come." 

Then  she  saith  to  the  servants,  "Whatsoever 

He  telleth  you,  that  do."    And  there  were  set 

Six  waterpots  of  stone  after  the  manner 

Of  purification,  holding  two  firkins  apiece. 

Then  Jesus  commanded,  "Fill  the  pots  with  water." 

They  did.    And  Jesus  saith  again,  "Now  draw 

And  bear  unto  the  governor  of  the  feast." 

They  bare  it.    And  when  the  head-man  of  the  feast 

Tasted  the  water  turned  to  wine,  he  called 

The  bridegroom,  saying,  "Every  man  doth  set 

The  best  wine  forth  at  first;  and  when  the  men 

Have  taken  much,  they  bring  forth  then  the  worst; 

But  thou  hast  kept  the  good  wine  until  now !" 

Now  at  this  feast  in  Cana  of  Galilee 
Did  Jesus  meet  a  beautiful  woman  called  Mary, 
Mary  the  Magdalene,  from  Magdala. 
And  he  loved  her,  because  she  was  so  fair 
In  countenance  and  form,  with  a  lovely  voice 

33 


And  hair  and  eyes,  and  manner ;  and  she  loved  him, 
For  all  did  marvel  at  his  manly  beauty, — 
Since  he  was  stately  in  physique,  yet  had 
A  woman's  tenderness ;  and  did  great  deeds. 

There  was  a  certain  nobleman,  whose  son 
Was  sick  at  Capernaum;  and  when  he  heard 
That  Jesus  had  come  down  to  Galilee, 
He  sought  him  out,  and  begged  that  he  should  heal 
His  son — for  he  was  at  the  point  of  death. 
Then  Jesus  said,  "Except  ye  see  wonders  and  signs, 
Ye  will  not  believe."    The  nobleman  answered  him, 
"Come  down,  ere  my  child  die,  sir!"    Jesus  said 
To  him,  "Go  thou  thy  way — thy  child  liveth." 
The  man  believed,  continuing  on  his  way; 
And  as  he  came,  his  servants  met  him,  saying, 
"Thy  son  liveth."     Then  he  inquired  of  them 
What  hour  he  had  begun  to  mend.    They  said, 
"Yesterday  at  the  seventh  hour  the  fever 
Departed  from  him."     Then  the  father  knew 
It  was  the  selfsame  hour  when  Jesus  said, 
"Thy  son  liveth,"  and  he  was  sore  amazed. 

This  was  the  second  wondrous  thing  that  Jesus 
Did  when  he  came  to  Galilee. 

And  Jesus  began  to  be  about  thirty  years  old. 

34 


Behold,  he  left  his  followers,  and  went 
Into  the  wilderness  to  meditate, 
And  fasted  there  for  forty  days  alone, 
Except  for  beasts  and  evil  spirits  there. 
At  last  his  hunger  gat  upon  him  so 
That  he  desired  to  eat.    And  Satan  came 
And  said  to  him, — 

"If  thou  be  Son  of  Man, 
Command  this  stone  that  it  become  as  bread." 

But  Jesus  answered  him, — 

"Is  it  not  writ, 

'That  man  shall  not  exist  by  bread  alone, 
But  by  every  word  of  God  the  Lord'?" 

Then  Satan  carried  him  to  Jerusalem, 
And  set  him  up  upon  a  pinnacle 
Of  the  temple,  saying, — 

"If  thou  be  Son  of  God, 

Cast  thyself  down  from  here,  for  it  is  written, 
'He  shall  give  his  angels  charge  o'er  thee, 
To  keep  thee,  lest  at  any  time  thou  dash 
Thy  foot  against  a  stone'." 

Jesus  replied, 
"  Tis  said,  Thou  shalt  not  tempt  the  Lord  thy  God'." 

The  Devil,  taking  him  up  to  an  high  mountain 

35 


Showed  him  all  the  kingdoms  of  the  land, 
And,  tempting,  said, — 

"This  power  will  I  give  thee, 
And  all  the  glory  of  them,  for  they  are  mine, 
And  to  whomsoever  I  will  can  I  give  them. 
If  thou  therefore  wilt  worship  me,  all  this 
Shall  be  thine  own,  and  thou  shalt  rule  as  king." 

But  Jesus  scorned  the  Devil,  answering  nothing. 

Behold,  then  Satan  took  the  form  of  Mary 
Of  Magdala,  whom  Jesus  loved,  and  tempted, 
Saying,— 

"If  thou  wilt  worship  me,  yea  me, 
I  will  give  thee  the  greatest  happiness 
That  ever  man  since  Eve  hath  tasted  of !" 

Jesus  answered, — 

"Get  thee  behind  me  Satan: 
For  it  is  written,  'Thou  shalt  worship  the  Lord 
Thy  God,  and  Him  only  shalt  thou  serve'." 

Then  Satan,  and  every  demon  which  had  been 
Mocking  behind  the  stones,  vanished  away. 
And  Jesus  wept,  because  he  was  exhausted; 
But  lo!  good  spirits  came  and  ministered 
To  him,  and  Gabriel  did  bless  him,  singing, 

"Blessed  be  thou,  O  Jesus  of  Nazareth, 

36 


For  thou  hast  overcome  the  Evil  One, 

Him  hast  thou  trampled  down  beneath  thy  feet!" 

And  all  the  angels  sang  and  did  rejoice. 

But  Satan  was  enraged  because  Jesus 
Would  none  of  him,  but  spurned  him  and  his  king 
dom. 

And  he  grew  sullen  like  a  thunder-cloud, 
That  spreads  from  the  horizon  o'er  the  heavens, 
Blackening  the  day  with  angry  spite 
And  driving  morning  into  dullest  night. 
He  shook  his  spirit  form  with  howling  rage, 
And  summoned  all  his  devils  to  conclave 
There  in  the  wilderness  where  wicked  imps 
Rejoice  to  dwell,  plotting  ill  'gainst  man. 

First  gathered  unto  their  king  Asmodeus 
The  Massikin,  who  were  the  spirits  of  death, 
Of  darkness  and  destruction — Lilin,  Shedim, 
Ruchin,  by  name;  and  then  the  tribe  of  Jinn, 
Who  were  like  horrid  beasts,  covered  with  hair; 
And  all  the  host  besides  of  evil  demons — 
Among  whom  flew  the  spirits  of  Fornication, 
Obsequiousness,  Insatiableness,  and  Pride; 
Fighting,  Injustice,  Lust,  and  Jealousy; 
Lying,  Anger,  Envy,  and  Filthy  Lucre; 

37 


Murder,  Idolatry,  and  all  the  rest 

That  prey  upon  the  souls  of  heedless  men. 

With  silent  shrieking  sought  they  then  their  chief, 
The  great  Beelzebul — the  mighty  Satan, 
Who  cruelly  commanded  order,  and  spoke: — 

"The  time  has  come,  sweet  friends,  when  we  must 

fight 

In  order  that  we  keep  our  kingdom  safe. 
For  truly  there  is  one  upon  the  earth 
Who  calls  himself  the  Son  of  Man — hostile 
Unto  our  ranks,  and  dangerous  indeed. 
This  man  alone" — Azazel  rolled  around 
His  wicked  eyes  across  the  multitude 
Of  eager  demons — "we  should  never  fear, 
Not  by  grim  Sheol's  gruesome  shades  of  Death! 
But  powers  mightier  than  he  have  come 
To  his  assistance,  sternly  opposed  to  us — 
The  righteous  Gabriel  and  all  the  angel 
Spirits  of  heaven,  of  whom  ye  have  some  ken. 

Now  there  is  one — a  woman — who  loveth  him, 
And  whom  he  loves :  through  her  we  gods  shall  work 
Him  to  undo,  with  all  his  helpers  rash. 
We  must  teach  man  that  Satan  is  to  fear. 
What  is  your  answer,  O  ye  noble  demons?" 

38 


A  warlike  murmur  traveled  through  the  ranks 
Of  Asmodeus'  contingent — never  heard 
By  man,  but  to  their  ears  like  to  the  hum 
Of  countless  wings  of  serried  flocks  of  birds 
Just  rising  from  the  ground  where  they  have  fed. 

"I  will  proceed,  do  ye  but  follow  me!" 
Cried  Satan,  well  contented  with  their  rage. 

That  selfsame  hour,  behold,  he  entered  Mary 
The  Magdalene,  though  she  did  know  it  not. 

And  Jesus  left  his  followers,  and  came 
To  Magdala  to  visit  Mary  there, 
Where  was  her  home.     She  rejoiced  to  see  him, 
And  gladly  welcomed  him,  whom  she  so  loved. 
When  Jesus  looked  into  her  glowing  eyes — 
Bright  with  the  light  of  passionate  desire — 
He  nigh  forgot  he  was  the  Son  of  Man, 
Prophet  of  God,  and  lover  of  mankind, 
But  only  lover  of  Mary  Magdalene. 

They  did  converse  together  of  many  things, 
And  Mary  asked : — 

"Whence  cometh  thy  wondrous  power, 
O  Jesus  of  Nazareth,  the  son  of  Mary? 
Surely  thou  hast  performed  great  miracles, 
For  I  myself  have  seen  thee  change  to  wine 

39 


Water  there  at  the  marriage-feast  of  Cana. 
Verily,  the  people  marvel,  saying, 
'Who  is  this  mighty  man,  and  whence  is  he? 
Is  he  Elias  come  again  to  earth, 
Who  speaks  as  if  he  had  authority?' 
But  others  say — they  are  base-minded  men — 
'He  does  these  things  in  league  with  Asmodeus!' 
Come,  tell  me  truly,  who  and  what  art  thou?" 
Then  answered  Jesus, — 

"The  son  of  Joseph  and  Mary 
Am  I ;  a  carpenter  of  Nazareth 
I  was,  until  an  angel  called  me  forth 
To  fight  the  battle  of  Righteousness  with  Truth, 
Sincerity  and  Love  against  the  foes 
Which  are  Maliciousness  and  Jealousy 
And  Immorality,  Vice,  and  Oppression, 
And  thousand  others  that  vex  our  weary  earth 
And  harden  unwary  hearts  of  heedless  men 
And  turn  them  into  fortresses  of  stone, — 
Just  as  indeed  the  mud  beneath  the  sea 
Is  hardened  by  the  awful  weight  above 
Of  brine  that  has  for  endless  periods 
Covered  the  filthiest  sewage  without  sign; 
Or  like  a  forest  tree,  that  fallen  to  earth, 

40 


V" 


i 


From  an  oil  painting  by  P.  &•  L.  Wells'} 

JESUS  AND  MARY  MAGDALENE. 


Changes  from  living  wood  to  hardest  stone — 
A  form — a  rock — abiding,  yet  dead  and  gone." 

"And  canst  thou  fight  alone  this  fearful  battle?" 

"Who  said  I  fight  alone?    The  man  who  is 
Upon  the  Lord's  side  truly  has  a  host 
Of  victories  with  him  to  do  his  work. 
I  have  with  me  the  angels,  and  the  spirits 
Of  heaven,  and  what  is  more — Jahweh,  my  God. 
I  cannot  fail.    My  mission  is  insured. 
Let  enemies  threaten,  put  in  prison,  kill — 
They  cannot  shackle  or  hurt  the  Spirit  of  Truth, 
Nor  can  they  bind  with  chains  the  loving  soul, 
For  it  is  everlasting  in  the  world." 

.  "Thou  art  a  prophet,  Jesus  of  Nazareth !" 
Said  Mary  wondering  at  his  sentences. 

"Verily  thou  hast  said.    But  I  am  more — 
I  am  the  Son  of  Man,  come  to  recall 
Repentant  men  and  women  to  the  Kingdom. 
Since  it  is  written,  'Thus  saith  the  Lord,  We  heard 
A  voice  of  trembling,  of  fear,  and  not  of  peace. 
Behold,  the  days  are  come  that  I  will  make 
A  covenant  with  the  house  of  Israel — 
New  covenant,  and  with  the  house  of  Judah: 
And  I  will  put  my  law  in  their  inward  parts, 

41 


Writing  it  on  their  hearts ;  and  I  will  be 
Their  God,  and  they  shall  be  my  people  then. 
And  they  shall  all  know  me,  from  the  least  of  them 
Unto  the  greatest  of  them,  saith  the  Lord'." 

"Well    dost    thou    know    the    scriptures    and    the 
prophets." 

"I  have  devoted  time  and  study  to  them, 
And  many  other  holy  writings,  too, 
Besides  the  great  traditions  of  the  elders. 
Did  not  the  prophet  Zechariah  say, 
'Rejoice  greatly,  O  thou  daughter  of  Zion ; 
Shout,  O  daughter  of  Jerusalem: 
Behold,  thy  King  doth  come  now  unto  thee: 
For  he  is  just,  having  salvation,  lowly, 
Riding  upon  an  ass,  even  upon 
A  colt,  the  foal  of  an  ass.     I  will  cut  off 
The  chariot  from  Ephraim,  and  the  horse 
From  Jerusalem,  and  the  battle  bow  shall  be 
Cut  off :  and  he  shall  speak  peace  to  the  heathen ; 
And  his  dominion  shall  be  from  sea  to  sea, 
And  from  the  river  unto  the  ends  of  the  earth. 
Turn  ye  to  the  stronghold,  prisoners  of  hope!' 
Thus  will  I  be  a  bringer,  too,  of  peace ; 
And  to  the  suffering,  yea  even  comfort." 

42 


"Where  didst  thou  learn  to  heal  the  sick,  O  Jesus  ?" 
Demanded  again  Mary  the  Magdalene. 

"Woman,  it  is  a  gift  that  comes  from  above. 
Behold,  the  power  was  given  unto  me 
To  cast  out  demons  in  the  name  of  the  Lord, 
To  heal  the  sick,  the  lame,  the  dumb  and  blind. 
The  angel  Gabriel  has  given  me 
Some  of  his  strength;  Elijah  has  come  to  me, 
And  blessed  me,  saying,  'Behold,  thou  son  of  man, 
Now  is  the  time  to  bring  the  Kingdom  in'. 
Knewst  not,  that  I  must  do  my  Father's  work? 
The  world  advances,  not  by  itself  alone — 
For  Satan  ever  is  present  to  turn  to  evil 
The  unwary  minds  of  heedless  men  and  women — 
But  by  the  hand  of  God,  and  sons  of  men 
Who  harbor  Wisdom  in  their  hearts  and  try 
To  change  for  good  men's  wicked  purposes. 
When  the  Kingdom  comes,  the  eye  of  man  shall  see 
More  glory  than  in  all  the  ages  past ! 
Like  as  the  nigHt — by  darkness  shrouded  fast, 
Surrounded  everywhere  by  pallid  gloom, 
Having  no  light  except  where  here  and  there 
A  star  breaks  through  the  passing  midnight  clouds 
To  show  to  man  that  God  is  in  the  sky 

43 


And  that  the  shadows  are  but  temporary 

Pavilions  covering  the  face  of  Earth — 

Recedes  and  vanishes  before  the  break 

Of  early  dawn,  which  scatters  from  the  heavens 

The  last  faint  traces  of  departed  dusk 

With  glorious  colors  of  the  rising  sun, 

Bright  standards  of  the  Universal  love, 

And  man  awakes  from  his  long  sleep,  and  shouts 

For  joy,  and  the  birds  carol  with  delight ; — 

So  when  the  King  has  been  proclaimed  as  Lord, 

And  on  the  earth  the  kingdom  is  established, 

Then  Israel  shall  clap  her  hands  and  shout, 

And  all  the  nations  shall  be  exceeding  glad, 

And  sin  shall  vanish,  and  love  shall  wax  fore'er." 

But  Mary  did  not  understand  his  words, 
Wherein  he  saith  the  Kingdom  is  at  hand, 
But  thought  that  Jesus  meant  that  he  would  be 
King  of  the  Jews,  and  govern  all  the  land 
With  sceptered  might  and  regal  authority, 
Since  well  she  knew  how  many  followers 
He  had,  and  what  great  power  to  command 
And  to  perform  most  wonderful  miracles, 
Whereby  he  could  make  seizure  of  the  power 
And  make  fulfilment  of  the  prophecies, 

44 


Which  say,  'And  he  shall  be  among  the  nations, 
And  shall  rebuke  many  people :  and  they  shall  beat 
Their  swords  to  plowshares,  their  spears  to  pruning- 

hooks : 

Nation  shall  not  lift  sword  against  a  nation, 
Neither  shall  they  learn  battle  any  more'. 
So  Mary  smiled  with  secret  joy,  and  said, — 

"Then  soon  indeed,  O  Jesus,  thou  wilt  cease 
From  wandering  about  the  land  alone 
Or  with  a  scattered  following,  as  thou 
Hast  done — going  about  from  place  to  place, 
A  wanderer  without  a  wife  or  home 
Or  little  children  who  shall  bear  thy  name — 
Unwelcome  here,  despised  there,  although 
Elsewhere  performing  mighty  miracles, 
But  with  an  army  gathered,  at  their  head 
Wilt  thou  proclaim  thyself  Israel's  king, 
And  reign  with  princely  pomp  acclaimed  by  all, 
And  have  the  objects  of  thy  heart's  desire." 

Thus  Mary  spoke.    And  immediately  the  Devil, 
Which  was  in  her  (though  no  man  knew  of  it) 
Cried  out,  "Jesus  of  Nazareth,  come  love, 
For  we  are  young  and  fair,  but  soon  the  time 
For  loving  will  have  passed  away  for  ever. 

45 


In  fondest  rapture  let  us  together  dwell; 
And  I  to  thee — thy  head  upon  my  bosom — 
Will  give  great  inspiration  born  of  love!" 

Her  lustrous  eyes  shone  bright,  and  her  fair  breasts, 
Whose  upper  swelling  only  was  exposed, 
Heaved  passionately;  and  she  on  him  did  smile 
With  more  enticement  than  her  mother  Eve 
Smiled  on  her  amorous  husband,  Adam  her  Lord. 

Jesus  was  sorrowful,  and  turning  away 
His  eyes,  he  answered  her : — 

"Thou  dost  not  know, 
Mary,  what  my  accomplishment  will  be. 
'Tis  written,  'He  is  despised  and  rejected  of  men, 
A  man  of  sorrows,  acquainted  with  grief ;  we  hid 
As  it  were  our  faces  from  him ;  he  was  despised, 
And  we  esteemed  him  not.     Surely  he 
Hath  borne  our  griefs,  and  carried  our  sorrows ;  yet 

we 

Esteemed  him  stricken,  smitten  of  God,  and  afflicted. 
He  was  wounded  for  our  transgressions,  and  bruised 
For  our  iniquities ;  and  the  chastisement 
Of  our  peace  was  on  him ;  with  his  stripes 
We  have  been  healed.    All  we  like  sheep  have  gone 
Astray — every  one  to  his  own  way ; 

46 


And  God  hath  laid  on  him  the  iniquity 

Of  all.     He  was  oppressed,  and  was  afflicted, 

Yet  opened  not  his  mouth ;  brought  as  a  lamb 

To  slaughter — as  a  sheep  before  her  shearers 

Is  dumb — so  he  openeth  not  his  mouth. 

He  was  taken  away  from  prison  and  judgment ; 

Who  shall  declare  his  generation?  for  he 

Was  severed  off  out  of  the  land  of  the  living; 

For  transgressions  of  my  people  was  he  stricken. 

He  made  his  grave  with  the  wicked,  and  with  the  rich 

In  death,  because  he  did  no  violence, 

Neither  was  any  deceit  found  in  his  mouth. 

Yet  it  pleased  God  to  bruise  and  put  him  to  grief : 

When  thou  shalt  make  his  soul  an  offering 

For  sin,  then  shall  he  see  his  generation, 

He  shall  prolong  his  days,  and  the  pleasure  of  God 

Shall  prosper  in  his  hand.     He  shall  behold 

The  travail  of  his  soul,  and  be  content : 

For  by  his  knowledge  shall  my  righteous  servant 

Set  many  right,  bearing  their  sinfulness. 

So  will  I  divide  him  portions  of  the  great, 

And  he  shall  share  the  spoil  with  the  strong,  for  he 

Hath  poured  his  soul  out  unto  death,  and  he 

Was  numbered  with  transgressors ;  the  sin  of  many 

47 


He  bare,  and  made  intercession  for  the  transgressors'. 

Behold,  the  Son  of  Man  hath  little  time 
Remaining,  and  he  must  be  about  his  work. 
Thou  asketh  love — Mary,  thou  hast  my  love." 

Then  did  the  devil  in  Mary  whisper  softly, 
"Jesus,  if  thou  dost  love  me,  come  and  love!" 

But  he,  perceiving  there  was  a  demon  in  her, 
Yet  knowing  not  it  was  Beelzebul, 
The  Prince  of  Demons,  did  abjure  it,  crying, 
"Devil,  come  forth  from  Mary  of  Magdala!" 
And  when  he  saw  that  nothing  could  avail, 
For  Satan  had  with  him  six  other  devils, 
He  turned  away,  and  sorrowfully  departed, 
And  going  alone  into  a  desert  place 
He  wept,  and  he  would  not  be  comforted, 
Because  that  Mary  was  possessed  of  demons. 
But  Mary  Magdalene  loved  Jesus  the  more, 
Although  she  could  not  comprehend,  blinded 
By  them  that  possessed  her,  what  his  mission  was. 

After  Jesus  had  fasted  in  the  desert, 
And  prayed  to  God  for  strength,  he  came  again 
Unto  the  Jordan  country.    The  next  day  after, 
John  stood,  and  two  of  his  disciples  with  him, 
Looking  on  Jesus  as  he  walked,  and  saith, 

48 


"Behold  the  Son  of  Man !"    The  two  disciples 
Heard  him  speak,  and  followed  Jesus.    Then 
Jesus  did  turn,  and  saw  them  following, 
And  said  to  them,  "What  seek  ye?"    They  replied, 
"Rabbi  (which  being  interpreted  means  Master) 
Where  dwellest  thou?"     He  answered,   "Come  and 

see." 

They  came  to  where  he  dwelt,  and  abode  with  him 
That  day,  for  it  was  then  about  tenth  hour. 
One  of  the  two  was  Andrew,  Peter's  brother, 
Who  found  his  brother  Simon  Peter,  and  said, 
"Lo,  we  have  found  the  Messiah,"  and  brought  him 

to  Jesus, 

Who,  when  he  beheld  him,  said,  "Thou  art  the  son 
Of  Jonah — Simon.     Thou  shalt  be  called  Cephas," 
Which  means  a  stone.     The  next  day  Jesus  went 
To  Galilee,  and  findeth  Philip,  and  saith, 
"Come,  follow  me."     Now  Philip  was  a  son 
Of  Bethsaida — the  city  of  Andrew  and  Peter. 
And  Philip  findeth  Nathanael,  and  saith, 
"We  have  found  him  of  whom  Moses  in  the  law 
And  the  prophets  wrote,  Jesus  of  Nazareth, 
The  son  of  Joseph."    Then  said  Nathanael, 
"Can  any  good  thing  come  out  of  Nazareth?" 

49 


And  Philip  answered,  "Come,  and  see."    When  Jesus 
Beheld  Nathanael  come  to  him,  he  saith, 
"An  Israelite,  in  whom  there  is  no  guile!" 
Nathanael  replied,  "Whence  knowest  thou  me?" 
Jesus  answered,  "Before  that  Philip  called  thee, 
When  thou  wast  under  the  fig  tree,  there  I  saw  thee." 
"Rabbi,  thou  art  the  Son  of  Man,  the  King 
Of  Israel !"  Nathanael  replied. 
And  Jesus  answered,  "Because  I  said  to  thee, 
I  saw  thee  under  the  fig  tree,  believest  thou? 
Verily,  thou  shalt  see  greater  things  than  these. 
I  say  unto  you,  Hereafter  ye  shall  see 
The  heavens  open,  and  angels  of  God  ascend 
And  descend  upon  the  Son  of  Man." 
After  this  he  went  to  Capernaum — 
He,  and  his  mother,  and  brethren,  and  his  disciples. 
Soon  the  passover  of  the  Jews  was  at  hand, 
So  Jesus  went  up  to  Jerusalem,  and  found 
Men  in  the  temple  selling  oxen  and  sheep 
And  doves,  and  changers  of  money  sitting  there. 
And  when  he  had  fashioned  a  scourge  of  leathern 

cords, 

He  drove  them  out  of  the  temple — all,  with  the  sheep, 
And  oxen,  and  poured  the  changers'  money  out, 

50 


And  overthrew  the  tables,  saying  to  them 

That  sold  the  doves,  "Take  these  things  hence — make 

not 
My  Father's  house  a  house  of  merchandise!" 

Many  beheld  the  miracles  he  did 
When  in  Jerusalem  at  the  passover; 
But  Jesus  did  not  commit  himself  to  them, 
Since  well  he  knew,  alas!  what  was  in  man! 

A  man  of  the  Pharisees,  named  Nicodemus, 
Sought  Jesus  out  by  night,  and  said  to  him, — 
"Rabbi,  we  know  thou  art  a  teacher  of  God, 
For  no  man  doeth  these  miracles  thou  doest 
Except  that  God  be  with  him."    Jesus  replied, — 
"Truly,  I  tell  thee,  unless  a  man  be  born 
Again,  he  cannot  see  the  kingdom  of  God." 
Then  Nicodemus  asked,  "How  can  a  man 
Be  born  when  he  is  old?    Can  he  enter  a  second 
Time  his  mother's  womb,  and  thus  be  born?" 
Jesus  answered,  "Truly,  I  say  unto  thee, 
That  which  is  born  of  the  flesh  is  flesh,  but  that 
Which  is  born  of  the  spirit  is  spirit ;  so  marvel 
Not  that  I  say,  thou  must  be  born  again. 
The  wind  blows  where  it  listeth,  and  thou  nearest 
The  sound  thereof,  but  canst  not  tell  from  whence 

51 


It  comes  or  whither  it  goes;  so  verily 
Is  every  one  that  is  born  of  the  spirit." 

Now  in  Jerusalem,  by  the  sheep  market, 
There  is  a  pool  called  in  the  Hebrew  tongue 
Bethesda,  having  five  porches,  within  which  lay 
A  multitude  of  impotent  folk,  of  blind, 
Halt,  withered,  waiting  for  movement  of  the  water. 
For  spirits  came  down  to  the  pool  at  certain  seasons 
And  troubled  the  water;  whosoever  then 
First  entered  the  pool  was  cured  of  his  disease. 
A  certain  man,  which  had  an  infirmity 
For  eight  and  thirty  years  was  there.    When  Jesus 
Saw  him,  he  said,  "Rise,  take  up  thy  bed,  and  walk." 
At  once  the  man  was  healed,  and  took  his  bed 
And  walked ;  and  on  the  same  day  was  the  Sabbath. 
The  Jews  therefore  said  unto  him  that  was  cured, 
"It  is  the  Sabbath  day;  it  is  not  lawful 
For  thee  to  carry  thy  bed."     He-  answered  them, 
"The  man  who  made  me  whole  said  unto  me, 
Take  up  thy  bed,  and  walk'."    They  asked  him  then, 
"What  man  is  that  which  said  it  unto  thee  ?" 
But  he  knew  not,  for  Jesus  had  gone  off 
Because  of  the  multitude,  but  afterward 
Finding  him  in  the  temple  he  said  unto  him, 

52 


"Behold,  thou  art  made  whole;  but  sin  no  more, 
Lest  a  worse  thing  come  to  thee."    The  man  departed, 
And  told  the  Jews  it  was  Jesus  who  made  him  whole. 
The  Jews  therefore  did  persecute  Jesus, 
Because  on  the  Sabbath  day  he  did  these  things. 

Soon  Jesus  journeyed  down  to  Nazareth, 
Where  he  had  been  brought  up,  and  as  was  wont 
Went  in  the  synagog  on  the  Sabbath  day, 
And  stood  to  read.    They  gave  to  him  the  book 
Of  the  prophet  Isaiah,  and  when  he  had  opened  it, 
He  read  where  it  was  written,  'The  spirit  of  God 
Is  upon  me,  for  he  hath  anointed  me  to  preach 
The  gospel  to  the  weak;  he  hath  sent  me 
To  heal  the  broken-hearted,  deliverance 
Tp  preach  to  captives,  return  of  sight  to  the  blind, 
To  set  at  liberty  them  that  are  bruised, 
And  preach  the  acceptable  year  of  the  Lord.' 
He  closed  the  book,  gave  it  to  the  minister, 
And  then  sat  down,  with  the  eyes  of  all  the  folk 
That  were  in  the  synagog  fastened  upon  him. 
He  said,  "This  day  is  the  scripture  fulfilled  in  your  ears." 
They  wondered  at  his  gracious  words,  and  said, 
"Is  not  this  Joseph's  son?"    But  Jesus  answered, 
"Surely  ye  will  say  to  me,  'Physician, 

53 


Heal  thyself;  what  in  Capernaum 
Thou  didst,  do  also  here  in  thy  country'. 
But  verily  I  say,  In  his  own  country 
No  prophet  is  accepted.     Many  widows 
Were  there  in  Israel  in  Elijah's  days, 
When  the  sky  was  closed  for  three  years  and  six  months, 
And  awful  famine  was  through  all  the  land: 
But  unto  none  of  them  was  Elijah  sent 
Save  to  a  widow  woman  of  Zarepath 
A  town  of  Zidon.    And  many  lepers,  too, 
Were  in  Israel  in  Elisha  the  prophet's  time, 
Yet  none  were  cleansed  save  Naaman  the  Syrian." 
When  they  who  were  in  the  synagog  heard  this, 
They  were  enraged,  and  rising  thrust  him  out 
Of  the  city  and  dragged  him  to  the  brow  of  the  hill 
Whereon  their  town  was  built,  that  they  might  cast 
Him  headlong  down.  But  he  passed  through  their  midst, 
And  leaving  Nazareth  he  went  his  way 
Unto  Capernaum,  wherein  he  dwelt — 
Which  is  upon  the  sea-coast,  bordering  on 
Naphtali  and  Zebulon:  'By  way  of  the  sea, 
Beyond  the  Jordan,  Galilee  of  the  gentiles, 
The  people  who  sat  in  darkness  saw  a  light', — 
Thus  were  the  words  of  Isaiah  the  prophet  fulfilled. 

54 


BOOK  III 

WALKING  by  Galilee,  Jesus  perceived 
Two  brethren — Simon  Peter  and  Andrew  his 

brother, 

Casting  a  net  in  the  sea,  for  they  were  fishers. 
These  were  the  same  that  had  been  following  John. 

It  came  to  pass,  as  the  people  pressed  to  him 
To  hear  the  word  of  God,  he  saw  two  ships 
Standing  by  the  lake.     He  entered  one, 
Which  was  the  ship  of  Simon,  and  prayed  that  he 
Would   thrust   the  boat   a   little   from   the  land, 
And  sitting  taught  the  people  from  the  boat. 

When  he  had  ceased,  he  said  to  Simon  Peter, 
"Launch  out  into  the  deep ;  let  down  your  nets." 
But  Simon  said,  "We  have  toiled  all  the  night, 
Yet  nothing  have  we  caught.     Nevertheless, 
Will  I  let  down  the  net  at  thy  command." 
They  did,  and  enclosed  a  multitude  of  fishes, 
So  that  their  net  was  broken.     Then  called  they 
Unto  their  partners  in  the  other  ship, 
To  come  and  help.    They  came,  and  filled  the  boats 

55 


So  that  they  both  began  to  sink  with  the  load. 
When  Simon  saw  it,  he  fell  at  Jesus'  knees, 
Crying,  "Depart  from  me,  O  Lord,  for  I 
Am  a  sinful  man."    For  he  was  astonished,  and  all 
With  him,  at  the  draught  of  fishes  they  took,  and  so 
Was  James,  and  John,  the  sons  of  Zebedee. 
Then  Jesus  said,  "Come,  follow  me,  and  I 
Will  make  you  fishers  of  men."    So  they  forsook 
Straightway  their  nets,  and  followed  him.    And  when 
He  had  advanced  a  little  farther  thence, 
He  saw  both  James  and  John,  who  mended  their  nets 
In  the  boat.    He  called  to  them ;  they  left  their  father 
Zebedee  in  the  ship  with  the  hired  servants, 
And  followed  Jesus. 

They  went  to  Capernaum ; 
And  as  it  was  the  Sabbath  day,  he  entered 
The  synagog,  and  taught.     All  were  astonished, 
For  he  taught  them  as  one  with  authority, 
Not  as  the  scribes.    There  was  in  the  synagog 
A  man  with  an  unclean  spirit,  and  he  cried  out, 
"Let  us  alone,  for  what  have  we  to  do 
With  thee,  O  Jesus  of  Nazareth?    Art  thou 
Come  to  destroy  us?    I  know  thee  who  thou  art, 
Thou  Son  of  Man !"    But  Jesus  rebuked  him,  saying, 

56 


"Hold  thou  thy  peace,  and  come  without  of  him!" 
And  when  the  evil  spirit  had  torn  him,  crying 
Aloud,  he  did  come  out.    All  were  amazed, 
And   questioned  among  themselves,   "What  thing  is 

this? 

What  doctrine  is  this?     For  with  authority 
Commandeth  he  the  unclean  spirits  even, 
And  they  obey  him."    Immediately  his  fame 
Spread  through  the  region  round  about  Galilee. 

Forthwith,  when  they  had  left  the  synagog, 
They  entered  the  house  of   Simon   with  James  and 

John, 

And  there  lay  Simon's  mother-in-law  abed, 
Sick  of  a  fever;  but  Jesus  lifted  her  up 
By  the  hand,  and  immediately  the  fever  left  her, 
And  she  did  minister  to  them.     At  even, 
At  sun-set,  they  brought  all  that  were  diseased 
To  Jesus ;  too,  the  folk  possessed  with  devils. 
All  the  town  was  gathered  at  the  door, 
And  there  he  healed  the  sick  of  divers  diseases, 
Casting  out  evil  spirits  with  his  word, 
That  it  might  be  fulfilled  which  Isaiah  said, 
'He  took  our  infirmities  and  sicknesses'. 

So  in  the  morning,  rising  ere  the  day, 

57 


He  went  into  a  solitary  place, 

To  pray ;  and  Simon  and  those  with  him  did  follow, 

And  finding  him,  said,  "All  men  seek  for  thee." 

Then  Jesus  went  about  all  Galilee, 
Teaching,  and  preaching  the  gospel  of  the  Kingdom, 
And  healing  sicknesses  among  the  people. 
Behold,  his  fame  went  through  all  Syria. 
They  brought  to  him  diseased  and  tortured  people, 
And  those  possessed  with  demons,  the  lunatic, 
And  them  that  had  the  palsy.     He  healed  them. 
Multitudes  of  people  followed  him 
From  Galilee,  Decapolis,  Judaea, 
Jerusalem,  and  from  beyond  the  Jordan. 

After  a  season  he  entered  Capernaum. 
And  as  he  taught,  some  of  the  Pharisees 
And  doctors  of  the  law  were  sitting  by, 
Gathered  from  every  part.    Behold  men  brought 
In  a  bed  a  man  who  had  the  palsy;  because 
They   could   not   bring   him   through   the   door    (the 

crowd 

Left  them  no  room  to  pass)  they  took  him  up 
Upon  the  roof  and  let  him  through  the  tiling, 
With  his  bed,  into  the  midst  before  Jesus, 
Who,  when  he  saw  their  faith,  said  unto  him, 

58 


"Be  of  good  cheer;  thy  sins  are  forgiven  thee." 
The  scribes  and  Pharisees  all  murmured  then. 
But  he  that  had  been  sick  arose  before  them, 
And  taking  his  bed  departed  to  his  house, 
Glorifying  God.     So  they  were  amazed, 
And    feared,   and   said, — "We   have   seen   marvelous 

things 

Today.    We  never  saw  it  in  this  fashion." 
Again  did  Jesus  go  forth  to  the  side  of  the  sea, 
And  multitudes  resorted  unto  him. 
As  he  passed  by,  he  saw  Levi  the  son 
Of  Alpheus  sitting  at  the  receipt  of  custom, 
And  said  to  him,  "Matthew,  follow  me." 
So  he  left  all,  and  rose  and  followed  him; 
And  Levi  had  a  feast  in  his  own  house, 
And  lo,  the  publicans  and  sinners  came 
And  sat  with  him  and  his  disciples.     But  when 
The  Pharisees  saw  it,  they  asked,  "Why  does 
Your  master  eat  with  publicans  and  sinners?" 
Jesus  replied,  "The  well  need  not  physicians, 
But  they  who  suffer.    Go  ye  and  learn  what  means, 
I  will  have  mercy,  but  not  the  sacrifice. 
I  am  not  come  to  call  the  righteous  men, 
But  sinners  to  repentance."     Then  there  came 

59 


To  him  some  followers  of  John,  demanding, 

"Why  do  we  and  the  Pharisees  fast  oft 

And  say  our  prayers,  but  thy  disciples  not?" 

Jesus  replied,  "As  long  as  they  have  with  them 

The  bridegroom,  they  can  not  afford  to  fast. 

But  time   will  come   when  the  bridegroom   shall  be 

dragged 
Away  from  them:    in  those  days  they  will  fast." 

He  spake  also  a  parable  unto  them: 
"No  man  doth  put  a  piece  of  new  garment 
Upon  an  old;  if  otherwise,  then  both 
The  new  maketh  a  rent,  nor  does  it  match 
The  old.    And  no  man  putteth  into  old 
Bottles  new  wine,  else  the  new  wine  will  burst 
The  bottles,  and  be  spilled,  and  the  bottles  perish. 
New  wine  must  be  put  into  newest  bottles, 
For  both  are  then  preserved.     Yet  so  it  is, 
That  no  man  also  having  drunk  old  wine 
Straightway  desireth  new — the  old  seems  better." 

It  happened  that  on  the  second  sabbath  after 
He  went  with  his  disciples  through  the  corn-fields ; 
And  his  disciples  plucked  the  ears  of  corn, 
And  ate  of  it,  rubbing  it  in  their  hands. 
Then  certain  Pharisees  said  unto  them, 

60 


"Why  do  ye  unlawful  things  on  the  sabbath  day?" 
But  Jesus  answering  said,  "Have  ye  not  read 
So  much  as  this,  what  David  did  when  he 
Himself  was  hungry?  and  they  who  were  with  him? 
How  he  went  into  the  house  of  God  in  the  days 
Of  Abiather  the  priest,  and  ate  the  shrewbread, 
Which  was  not  lawful  for  him  to  eat,  nor  for 
Those  with  him,  but  only  for  the  priests?    Have  ye 
Not  read  in  the  law,  how  on  the  sabbath  days 
The  priests  in  the  temple  profane  the  sabbath  day 
And  yet  are  blameless?  but  I  say  unto  you, 
There  is  one  greater  than  the  temple  here. 
If  ye  had  known  what  means,  I  will  have  mercy — 
Not  sacrifice,  ye  would  not  condemn  the  guiltless. 
The  sabbath  was  made  for  man,  not  man  for  the  sab 
bath,— 
Therefore  the  Son  of  Man  is  lord  of  it." 

When  he  departed,  he  went  to  their  synagog; 
And  there  was  a  man  whose  hand  was  withered.   The 

scribes 

And  Pharisees  kept  watch  on  him  to  see 
If  he  would  heal  on  the  sabbath  day — to  bring 
An  accusation  against  him.     But  Jesus  perceived 
Their  thoughts,  and  said  to  the  man,  "Arise!    stand 

forth !" 

61 


He  did.     They  asked,  "Is  it  lawful  to  heal  on  the 

sabbath?" 

Then  Jesus  replied,  "I  ask  of  you  one  thing: 
Is  it  lawful  upon  the  sabbath  to  do  good, 
Or  to  do  evil?  to  save  life,  or  destroy  it? 
What  man  is  there  among  you  who  would  not, 
If  he  had  a  sheep  that  fell  into  a  pit 
On  the  sabbath  day,  seize  it  and  lift  it  out? 
How  much  is  a  man  better  than  a  sheep?" 

They  held  their  peace.  When  he  had  looked  around 
On  them  with  anger,  grieved  for  their  hard  hearts, 
He  spoke  unto  the  man,  "Stretch  forth  thy  hand!" 
He  stretched  it  out,  and  it  was  made  as  whole 
As  the  other.     But  filled  with  madness  the  Pharisees 
Went  forth,  and  plotted  with  the  Herodians 
Straightway  against  him,  to  take  away  his  life. 
But  Jesus  withdrew  himself  with  his  disciples 
Seaward;  and  multitudes  from  Galilee 
Did  follow,  as  well  as  from  all  other  parts. 
So  he  spake  from  a  ship;  and  healed  divers  diseases. 

It  came  to  pass  those  days,  that  Jesus  went 
Upon  a  mountain  to  pray ;  and  all  the  night 
Continued  in  prayer  to  God.    When  it  was  day, 
He  calleth  to  himself  those  whom  he  would; 

62 


And  twelve  of  them  he  did  ordain,  that  they 

Should  be  with  him;  that  he  might  send  them  forth 

To  preach,  have  power  to  heal,  and  cast  out  demons ; 

And  them  he  called  apostles : — Simon  Peter, 

Andrew  his  brother,  James  and  John  the  sons 

Of  Zebedee  (Boanerges,  which  means 

"The  sons  of  thunder,"  Jesus  surnamed  them)  ;  Philip 

Matthew  the  publican,  Bartholomew, 

And  Thomas,  and  Simon  the  Canaanite  (Zelotes, 

Too,  he  was  called),  and  James,  Alpheus's  son, 

And  Judas  the  brother  of  James,  and  the  other  Judas, 

Judas  Iscariot,  which  was  the  traitor. 

So  he  came  down  with  them,  and  stood  in  the  plain ; 
And  the  company  of  his  disciples,  and  crowds 
Of  people  came  to  hear  and  be  made  whole. 

Seeing  the  throngs,  he  went  up  onto  a  mountain ; 
And  his  disciples  coming,  he  taught  them  there, 
Blessing  them  with  the  many  beatitudes ; 
He  likened  them  to  the  salt  of  the  earth,  and  light 
Of  the  world ;  he  said  he  came  to  fulfill  the  law, 
Not  to  destroy ;  he  spoke  of  the  danger  of  anger 
Toward  a  brother;  dangers  of  lustful  thoughts; 
Of  making  oaths ;  of  desire  for  revenge ; 
The  beauty  of  loving  even  one's  enemies ; 

63 


Of  giving  alms  with  charitable  intent ; 

Of  prayer  truly  sincere,  and  of  forgiveness, 

And  treasures  laid  up  in  heaven,  not  on  earth, 

Of  the  joy  of  life,  kind  deeds  and  sympathy. 

"Therefore  whoever  heareth  these  sayings  of  mine," 

Spake  Jesus,  "and  doeth  them,  I  liken  him 

To  a  wise  man  who  builded  his  house  on  a  rock: 

The  rain  descended,  the  floods  came,  and  the  winds 

Blew,  and  beat  upon  that  house,  but  it 

Fell  not,  for  it  was  founded  upon  a  rock !" 

When  he  had  made  an  end  of  teaching  there, 
He  went  to  Capernaum,  and  here  he  healed 
The  servant  of  a  certain  centurion. 
This  servant  was  dear  to  him,  and  he  was  dear 
To  the  elders,  because  he  built  them  a  synagog, 
And  they  sought  Jesus,  beseeching  him  to  heal 
The  servant.    When  he  was  now  quite  near  the  house, 
The  centurion  sent  to  Jesus'  friends,  who  said 
For  him,  "Lord,  trouble  not  thyself,  for  I 
Am  not  worthy  that  shouldst  enter  in 
My  house,  nor  am  I  worthy  to  come  to  thee. 
Say  in  a  word,  and  my  servant  shall  be  healed. 
For  I  am  also  used  to  authority, 
Having  beneath  me  soldiers :   I  say  to  one, 

64 


Go,  and  he  goeth;  to  others,  Come,  and  they  come; 
Unto  my  servant,  Do  this,  and  he  doeth  it." 

When  Jesus  heard  these  things,  he  marveled  at  him, 
And  turned  around,  saying  unto  the  people, 
"I  have  never  found  so  great  a  faith,  no,  not 
In  Israel.     Many  shall  come  from  the  east 
And  west,  and  sit  with  Abraham,  and  Isaac; 
But  the  children  of  Israel  shall  be  cast  out!" 

When  they  returned,  they  found  the  servant  whole. 

It  came  to  pass,  that  he  came  to  the  town  of  Nain, 
And  there  he  raised  from  the  bier  a  widow's  son, 
And  great  was  the  rejoicing. 

Now  John's  disciples 

Told  John  these  things,  and  he  sent  messengers 
To  Jesus,  asking,  "Art  thou  he  that  should  come? 
Or  look  we  for  another?"    Jesus  answered, 
"Go,  tell  to  John  what  things  ye  have  seen  and  heard : 
How  blind  men  see,  the  lame  men  walk,  the  lepers 
Are  cleansed,  the  deaf  men  hear,  the  dead  are  raised, 
And  the  gospel  is  preached  to  the  poor.   Blessed  is  he, 
Who  is  not  offended  in  me!"   And  when  the  men 
Of  John  had  gone,  he  said  concerning  John, — 

"What  went  ye  out  into  the  wilderness  in  truth 
To  see  ?  a  reed  bowed  by  the  wind  ?  a  man 

65 


Clothed  in  soft  raiment?    They  who  are  appareled 

Gorgeously  and  delicately  live 

Are  in  kings'  courts.   A  prophet?   Verily, 

Much  more;  for  this  is  he,  of  whom  'tis  writ, 

My  messenger  I  send  before  thy  face, 

Who  shall  prepare  thy  way  before  thee.    Lo, 

Among  those  born  of  women  hath  not  risen 

A  greater  than  John  the  Baptist;   yet  he  who  is 

Least  in  the  Kingdom  of  Heaven  is  greater  than  he. 

Prom  John  the  Baptist's  day  till  now  the  Kingdom 

Suffereth  violence,  and  the  violent 

Take  it  by  force.     For  until  John,  the  law 

And  prophets  prophesied.    This  is  Elias, 

If  ye  will  accept  it,  who  was  for  to  come. 

So  he  that  hath  the  ears  to  hear,  hear. 

Whereunto  shall  I  liken  this  generation? 
What  are  they  like?    Children  who  sit  in  the  market 
Place,  calling  to  one  another,  saying, 
'We  piped  to  you — ye  have  not  danced ;  we  mourned 
To  you — ye  have  not  wept.'    For  John  the  Baptist 
Came  eating  no  bread  nor  drinking  wine; 
And  ye  remark,  'He  hath  a  devil.'     The  Son 
Of  man  comes  eating  and  drinking;  and  ye  remark, 
'Behold  a  gluttonous  man,  a  bibber  of  wine, 

66 


A  friend  of  publicans  and  sinners.'    But  wisdom 
Is  justified  of  all  her  children." 

Then 

He  upbraided  the  cities  wherein  his  miracles 
Were  done,  because  they  paid  no  heed: — 

"Oh  woe 

To  thee,  Chorazin,  and  woe,  Bethsaida, 
To  thee!  for  if  the  mighty  works  were  done 
In  Tyre  and  Sidon  that  have  been  done  in  thee, 
They  would  have  showed  repentance  long  ago 
In  sack-cloth  and  ashes.    But  I  say  unto  you, 
It  shall  be  easier  for  Tyre  and  Sidon 
On  judgment  day  than  you!"     And  angrily 
He  spake  again, — 

"I  thank  thee,  Father,  Lord 

Of  earth  and  heaven,  because  that  thou  hast  hid 
These  things  from  the  wise  and  prudent,  and  hast  re 
vealed 

Them  unto  babes — since  so  it  has  seemed  prudent." 
Again  he  spake: — 

"Come  unto  me,  all  ye 
That  labor  and  are  heavy  laden,  and  I 
Will  give  you  rest.    Take  my  yoke  upon  you, 
And  learn  of  me,  for  I  am  meek  and  lowly 

67 


In  heart;  and  ye  shall  find  rest  for  your  souls. 
For  my  yoke  is  easy,  and  my  burden  is  light." 

About  this  time,  Mary  Magdalene, 
Who  had  perceived  she  was  possessed  of  devils, 
Sought  Jesus,  whom  she  loved,  that  he  might  free 
Her  from  the  torment,  since  she  knew  no  rest 
Nor  day  nor  night;  and  him  she  found  preaching 
The  gospel  of  the  kingdom.    Sad  and  tired 
She  threw  herself  upon  the  ground  at  his  feet, 
In  the  presence  of  his  disciples,  and  begged  that  he 
Might  drive  the  demons  out.    Behold,  he  prayed 
To  God  with  a  loud  voice,  and  then  commanded 
The  evil  spirits  to  come  from  her.    And  lo, 
With  a  mighty  noise  like  rushing  of  many  wings 
Satan  with  his  six  wicked  spirits  left  her; 
And  all  were  sore  afraid.   But  Jesus  rejoiced, 
Because  he  had  delivered  Mary  from  Satan, 
And  lifted  Mary  up,  and  blessed  her  there, 
And  went  his  way,  followed  by  his  disciples, 
Who  marveled  greatly  at  the  miracle. 

One  of  the  Pharisees  desired  that  Jesus 
Would  eat  with  him,  the  following  day.    So  he 
Entered  the  Pharisee's  house,  and  sat  to  meat. 
And  lo,  when  Mary  learned  that  Jesus  sat 

68 


At  meat  in  the  Pharisee's  house,  she  came  in  too, 
Bringing  an  alabaster  box  of  ointment, 
And  stood  at  his  feet  behind  him,  weeping  sore, 
And  began  to  wash  his  feet  with  tears,  and  wiped 
Them  with  the  hairs  of  her  head,  and  kissed  his  feet, 
Anointing  them  with  ointment.    But  when  Simon, 
Who  had  invited  Jesus,  saw  the  thing, 
He  spake  within  himself,  saying,  "This  man, 
If  he  were  indeed  a  prophet,  would  know  what  man 
ner 

Of  woman  this  is,  and  who,  that  toucheth  him: 
For  she  is  a  sinner."    Jesus,  answering,  said, — 
"Simon,  I  have  somewhat  to  say  to  thee." 
He  said,  "Say  on,  O  master."    "There  was  a  certain 
Creditor  which  had  two  debtors:  one 
Owed  him  five  hundred  pence,  the  other,  fifty. 
When  they  had  nothing  to  pay,  he  frankly  forgave 
Them  both.    Tell  me,  therefore,  which  of  the  two 
Will  love  him  most?"    Simon  replied,  "I  think 
That  he,  to  whom  he  did  forgive  the  most." 
Jesus  answered,  "Thou  hast  rightly  judged." 
Then,  turning  to  the  woman,  he  said,  "Simon, 
Seest  thou  this  woman?   I  entered  thine  house, — 
Thou  gavest  me  no  water  for  my  feet; 

69 


But  she  hath  washed  my  feet  with  tears,  and  wiped 
Them  with  the  hairs  of  her  head.  Thou  gavest  me 
No  kiss;  but  she  unceasingly  hath  kissed 
My  feet.   My  head  with  oil  thou  didst  not  anoint; 
But  she  with  ointment  hath  anointed  my  feet. 
Therefore  I  say  to  thee,  her  sins,  which  are  many, 
Are  now  forgiven,  for  she  loved  very  much. 
Whoso  is  forgiven  little,  loveth  little." 

And  Jesus  went  through  all  the  villages, 
Teaching  and  preaching  and  healing  sicknesses 
Among  the  people.     The  twelve  were  with  him,  and 

certain 

Women,  which  had  been  healed  of  evil  spirits 
And  weaknesses — Mary  Magdalene, 
From  whom  went  seven  devils;  Joanna  the  wife 
Of  Chuza,  Herod's  steward;  Susanna;  and  others, — 
Who  ministered  unto  Jesus  from  their  substance. 

Then  there  was  brought  to  him  a  man  possessed 
With  devils — blind  and  dumb;  and  he  healed  him, 
So  that  the  blind  and  dumb  both  spake  and  saw. 
And  all  the  people  were  amazed,  and  said, 
"Is  this  not  David's  son  ?"    The  Pharisees, 
When  they  heard  of  it,  said,  "This  fellow  doth 
Not  cast  out  devils  but  by  Beelzebub, 

70 


The  prince  of  devils."    Jesus  knew  their  thoughts, 
And  said  to  them,  "Every  kingdom  divided 
Against  itself  is  brought  to  desolation; 
And  every  town  or  house  divided  against 
Itself  can  not  remain :  therefore  if  Satan 
Cast  Satan  out,  he  is  divided  against 
Himself,  and  how  then  can  his  kingdom  stand? 
And  if  by  Beelzebub  I  cast  out  demons, 
By  whom  do  your  sons  cast  them  out?  Therefore 
They  shall  judge  you.    But  if  by  the  spirit  of  God 
I  cast  out  devils,  then  the  kingdom  of  God 
Is  come  to  you.     Or  else  how  can  one  enter 
Into  a  strong  man's  house,  and  spoil  his  goods, 
Except  he  first  bind  the  strong  man?  and  then 
He  spoils  the  house.     He  who  is  not  with  me 
Is  against  me;  and  he  who  gathereth  not  with  me 
Scattereth  it  abroad.    If  the  tree  is  good, 
The  fruit  is  good,  but  if  the  tree  is  corrupt, 
So  is  the  fruit:   a  tree  is  known  by  its  fruit. 
O  generation  of  vipers,  how  can  ye,  evil, 
Speak  forth  good  things?    For  of  the  heart's  abund 
ance 

Speaketh  the  mouth:    good,  good:    but  evil,  bad!" 
That  day  went  Jesus  out  of  the  house,  and  sat 

71 


By  the  seaside,  and  there  he  taught.     So  great 

A  multitude  assembled,  he  entered  a  ship, 

And  spoke  from  the  sea  to  the  people  on  the  land, 

Teaching  in  parables : — the  sower  who  sowed 

With  varying  results.    "But  he  that  received 

The  seed  into  good  ground  is  he  that  heareth 

The  word  and  receiveth  it  in  a  good  and  honest 

Heart  and  understandeth  it,  and  too 

Beareth,  with  patience,  fruit,  and  bringeth  forth, 

Thirty,  sixty,  or  even  an  hundred  fold. 

No  man  who  lights  a  candle  covereth  it, 

But  setteth  it  on  a  candlestick  that  they 

Who  enter  may  see  the  light.   For  nothing  is  secret, 

That  shall  not  be  made  manifest;  nor  hid, 

That  shall  not  be  made  known  and  come  abroad. 

Take  heed  then  how  ye  hear:    for  he  that  hath, 

To  him  shall  much  be  given ;   and  who  hath  not, 

From  him  is  taken  whatever  he  seems  to  have." 

In  another  parable  he  likened  the  kingdom 

To  harvests  of  wheat,  in  which  are  many  tares 

Until  the  cutting  time. 

Also,  he  said, — 

"The  kingdom  is  like  a  grain  of  mustard  seed, 
Which  a  man  did  take  and  sow  within  his  field ; 

72 


It  is  indeed  the  least  among  the  seeds, 
But  when  it  is  grown,  it  is  the  greatest  of  herbs, 
And  becometh  a  tree,  so  that  the  birds  of  the  air 
Descend  and  lodge  in  the  branches  thereof. 
The  kingdom  is  like  to  leaven,  which  a  woman  took 
And  hid  in  three  measures  of  meal  till  all  was  leav 
ened. 

Again,  the  kingdom  of  heaven  is  like  a  treasure 
Hid  in  a  field ;   the  which,  when  a  man  hath  found, 
He  hideth,  and  for  the  joy  thereof  he  goeth 
And  selleth  all  he  hath  and  buyeth  that  field. 
Or  yet,  the  kingdom  is  like  unto  a  net 
Cast  in  the  sea,  which  gathered  every  kind; 
And  when  it  was  full,  they  drew  it  to  the  shore." 

Then  Jesus  said,  "The  man  who  has  been  taught 
The  secrets  of  the  kingdom  is  like  a  man 
That  is  an  householder,  who  bringeth  forth 
Out  of  his  treasure  things  both  new  and  old." 

When  Jesus  had  finished  speaking,  he  gave  com 
mand 

To  depart  to  the  other  side.   Therefore  they  launched 
The  boat.    Behold,  there  rose  a  mighty  tempest, 
So  that  the  ship  was  covered  with  the  waves. 
Jesus  was  in  the  stern,  asleep  on  a  pillow. 

73 


They  roused  him,  crying,  "Master,  carest  thou  not 
Whether  we  perish?"    He  stood  upright,  rebuked 
The  wind,  and  said  to  the  waters,  "Peace !  be  still !" 
The  wind  did  cease,  and  great  calm  came.   He  said, 
"Why  are  ye  fearful,  ye  of  little  faith?" 
But  they  did  marvel,  saying,  "What  manner  of  man 
Is  this,  whom  even  the  winds  and  sea  obey !" 

And  when  he  had  arrived  at  the  other  side, 
Into  the  country  of  the  Gergesenes, 
There  met  him  two  possessed  with  devils,  coming 
Out  of  the  tombs,  exceeding  fierce,  so  that 
No  man  might  pass  that  way.   They  had  been  bound 
Often  with  chains  and  fetters,  but  they  had  torn 
Their  bonds  asunder ;  and  they  could  not  be  tamed. 
Both  night  and  day  they  lived  in  the  hills  and  tombs, 
Crying,  and  cutting  themselves  with  stones.  But  when 
They  saw  Jesus  from  far  away,  they  ran 
Toward  him,  crying,  "What  have  we  to  do  with  thee, 
Jesus  of  Nazareth?    For  hast  thou  come 
To  torture  us  before  the  time?" 

"What  is  your  name?"  demanded  Jesus  of  them! 

They    answered,    "Legion,    good    master,    is    our 

name, 
For  we  are  many.     If  thou  must  cast  us  forth, 

74 


Send  us  we  pray  thee  into  that  herd  of  swine !" 
(Since  there  was  feeding  near  a  herd  of  swine.) 
And  Jesus  said, — "Behold  the  Son  of  Man 
Is  come  to  earth  to  destroy  the  power  of  Satan, 
So  that  the  Kingdom  will  be  free  to  thrive. 
Come  forth,  ye  evil  spirits!"    And  they  went  out, 
And  entered  the  swine ;  and  violently  the  herd 
Ran  down  the  hill  and  perished  in  the  sea. 

And  Jesus  returned  to  his  own  country,  and  spake 
To  his  disciples  on  the  way,  saying, 
"When  unclean  spirits  have  gone  out  of  a  man, 
They  walk  through  arid  places  seeking  rest, 
But  finding  none,  they  say,  'We  will  return 
Into  our  house  from  whence  we  are  come  out.' 
Then  they  return,  finding  their  houses  empty, 
Swept,  and  garnished;  and  they  go  and  take 
Seven  more  spirits  even  wickeder 
Than  they  themselves ;  and  so  they  enter  in 
And  dwell.    The  last  state  of  those  men  is  worse 
E'en  than  the  first.    This  wicked  generation 
Shall  have  it  likewise  so  unto  themselves." 

While  yet  he  talked,  behold  his  mother  and  brethren 
Stood  without,  wishing  to  speak  with  him. 
One  said  to  Jesus,  "Thy  mother  and  brethren  stand 

75 


Without,  wishing  to  speak  with  thee."     He  said, 
"Who  is  my  mother?  behold,  who  are  my  brethren?" 
Then  stretching  forth  his  hand  toward  his  disciples 
He  said,  "Behold,  my  mother  and  my  brethren! 
Whoever  shall  do  the  will  of  my  Father  in  heaven, 
He  is  my  brother,  my  sister,  and  my  mother." 
Biit  his  relations  thought  that  he  was  crazy. 
Many,  hearing  him  teach  in  the  synagog, 
Astonished,  said,  "Whence  hath  this  man  his  wisdom 
And  mighty  works?   Is  he  not  the  carpenter's  son? 
Is  not  his  mother  called  Mary  ?  his  brethren,  James, 
And  Joses,  Simon,  and  Judas?   His  sisters,  are  they 
Not  all  with  us  ?    Whence  hath  this  man  these  gifts !" 
They  were  offended  in  him.    But  Jesus  said, 
"A  prophet  is  not  without  honor,  save  in  his  own 
Country,  among  his  kin,  and  his  own  house." 
He  could  there  do  no  mighty  work,  except 
He  laid  his  hands  on  some  sick  folk  and  healed  them, 
Marveling  because  of  their  unbelief. 
But  on  the  little  ones  he  took  compassion 
Because  they  fainted,  scattered  abroad,  like  sheep 
Without  a  shepherd.     Spake  he  to  his  disciples, 
"The  harvest  is  full,  but  laborers  are  few; 
Pray  ye  therefore  the  Lord  of  the  harvest,  that  he 

76 


Will  send  forth  laborers  into  his  harvest." 
When  he  had  called  to  him  his  twelve  disciples, 

He  gave  them  power  against  the  unclean  spirits, 

To  cast  them  out,  and  heal  all  kinds  of  disease. 

And  he  began  to  send  them  forth  by  twos, 

Commanding  thus : — 

"Go  not  into  the  way 

Of  the  Gentiles,  or  any  town  of  Samaria, 

But  rather  seek  ye  Israel's  lost  sheep. 

And  preach,  The  kingdom  of  heaven  is  at  hand. 

Heal   sick,  cleanse  lepers,   raise  dead,  and  cast  out 
devils. 

Freely  ye  have  received,  so  freely  give. 

Behold,  I  send  you  forth  as  sheep  in  the  midst 

Of  wolves;  be  therefore  wise  as  serpents,  and  harm 
less 

As  doves.     Beware  of  men,  for  they  will  deliver 

You  up  to  councils,  and  scourge  you  in  synagogs. 

But  take  no  thought  of  how  or  what  ye  say 

When  ye  are  delivered  up  and  brought  before 

The  governors  and  rulers  for  my  sake, 

For  testimony  against  them  and  the  Gentiles: 

The  spirit  of  your  Father  speaketh  in  you. 

Ye  shall  be  hated  by  men  for  my  name's  sake, 

77 


But  who  endureth  to  the  end  is  saved. 

Who  taketh  not  his  cross  and  followeth  me, 

He  is  not  worthy  of  me.    Yea,  he  that  findeth 

His  life  shall  lose  it,  and  whoso  loseth  his  life 

For  my  name's  sake  shall  find  it.    And  who  shall  give 

To  drink  to  one  of  these  poor  folk  a  cup 

Of  water  only  in  a  disciple's  name, 

Truly  shall  he  in  no  wise  lose  his  reward." 

So  they  went  out,  and  preached,  and  cast  out  devils, 

Anointed  the  sick,  and  healed  them  everywhere. 

And  Jesus  departed  thence  to  teach  and  preach. 
Now  Herod  heard  of  him  (his  name  had  spread 
Abroad),  and  thought  that  he  was  John  the  Baptist 
Risen  from  the  dead,  because  he  did 
Such  mighty  works.     (Some  said,  This  is  Elias, 
And  others,  This  is  a  prophet,  or  son  of  a  prophet, 
But  Herod  said,  This  man  is  John,  whom  I 
Beheaded — he  is  risen  from  the  dead.) 
For  Herod  himself  had  sent  and  seized  on  John 
And  for  Herodias'  sake  bound  him  in  prison 
(She  was  his  brother  Philip's  wife,  but  he 
Had  married  her).    For  John  had  said  to  Herod, 
"It  is  not  lawful  for  thee  to  have  thy  brother's 
Wife,"  and  Herodias  was  angry  against  him, 

78 


And  would  have  killed  him,  but  she  could  not,  since 

Herod 

Had  fear  of  John,  knowing  that  he  was  just 
And  holy,  and  too  observed  him ;  and  when  he  heard 

him, 
Did  many  things,  and  heard  him  very  gladly. 

So  when  a  convenient  day  was  come,  that  Herod 
Gave  to  his  lords,  high  captains,  and  chief  estates 
Of  Galilee  a  supper  upon  his  birthday, 
Herodias'  daughter  came  in  and  danced,  and  pleased 
Herod  and  those  who  sat  with  him;  and  he 
Said  to  the  damsel,  "Ask  whatever  thou  wilt 
Of  me,  and  I  will  give  it  thee,  even 
Unto  the  half  of  my  kingdom,"  and  he  sware  it. 
The  girl  went  forth  and  said  unto  her  mother, 
"What  shall  I  ask?"    She  answered,  "John  the  Bap 
tist's 

Head."     So  she  returned  at  once  to  the  king, 
And  asked  of  him : — "I  will  that  thou  give  me 
Upon  a  platter  the  head  of  John  the  Baptist 
By  and  by."    The  king  was  exceeding  sorry, 
Yet  for  the  sake  of  his  oath  and  them  that  sat 
With  him,  he  would  not  reject  the  girl's  request. 
Immediately  an  executioner 

79 


The  king   sent    forth,   commanding   the   head   to  be 

brought : 

So  he  beheaded  him  in  the  prison  and  brought 
His  head  upon  a  platter,  and  offered  it 
To  her;  and  the  damsel  gave  it  to  her  mother. 
And  when  his  disciples  heard  of  it,  they  came 
And  took  his  corpse  and  laid  it  in  a  tomb. 

But  they  knew  not  the  works  of  Beelzebub, 
Who,  hating  John  because  of  his  holiness 
And  his  love  for  Jesus  besides,  had  secretly 
Approached  Herodias,  and  in  her  mind — 
Which,  being  sinful,  was  an  easy  prey — 
Had  put  desire  for  John  the  Baptist's  death; 
Her  daughter,  too,  and  Herod  he  visited, 
Since  they  were  friends  to  him  and  his  kingdom. 

Wonderful  miracles  Jesus  performed 
In  all  the  country  near  Gennesaret. 

But  Satan  with  his  foul  demons  entered  many 
Of  his  disciples,  that  they  should  take  offense 
At  him  and  what  he  preached,  and  go  away. 
So  these  deserted  him,  and  murmured  loud, 
And  walked  no  more  with  him.   Then  Jesus  said 
Unto  the  twelve,  "Will  ye  too  go  away?" 

Peter  (whom  Jesus  had  surnamed  the  Rock) 

80 


Answered  and  said,  "To  whom,  Lord,  shall  we  go? 
Thou  hast  the  words  of  eternal  life;  and  we 
Believe  thou  art  the  Christ,  the  Son  of  Man!" 

Jesus  replied,  "Have  I  not  chosen  you  twelve, 
And  one  of  you  a  devil !"   He  spake  of  Judas 
Iscariot,  the  son  of  Simon :  since  he 
It  was,  one  of  the  twelve,  that  should  betray  him. 
Satan  had  sought  him  out  especially, 
And  entered  his  heart,  knowing  that  very  soon 
He  would  betray  his  master — demon-filled! 
But  Judas  knew  it  not,  nor  any  man  else. 
And  many  evil  spirits  entered  the  Jews, 
Especially  the  priests  in  authority, 
At  Beelzebul's  command,  to  make  them  wish 
To  put  to  torture  Jesus  of  Nazareth. 

So  after  these  events  did  Jesus  walk 
In  Galilee,  for  he  would  not  remain 
In  Jewry,  because  they  sought  to  kill  him  there. 
And  his  apostles  returned  to  him,  and  told 
Him  all  that  they  had  done.    Then  he  took  them, 
And  privately  went  aside  to  a  desert  place. 


81 


BOOK  IV 

THERE  came  to  Jesus  Pharisees  and  certain 
Scribes,  from  Jerusalem,  for  they  had  seen 
That  some  of  the  disciples  ate  their  bread 
With  hands  that  were  defiled — that  is,  unwashen. 
(For  Pharisees  and  all  the  Jews,  except 
They  diligently  wash  their  hands,  eat  not, 
Keeping  traditions  of  the  elders;  and  when 
They  come  from  the  market-place  they  do  not  eat 
Until  they  bathe  themselves ;   and  other  rules 
They  follow — washings  of  cups,  and  pots,  and  brazen 
Vessels. )     So  they  asked  him : 

"Why  do  not  thy 

Disciples  walk  according  to  the  traditions 
Of  the  elders,  but  eat  their  bread  with  hands 
Defiled?"    He  answered  them,  "Well  did  Isaiah 
Prophesy  of  you,  O  hypocrites, 
As  it  is  writ:  'This  people  honoreth  me 
With  their  lips,  but  their  heart  is  far  from  me.  In  vain 
They  worship  me,  teaching  as  doctrines  the  precepts 
Of  men.'  Ye  leave  the  commands  of  Jahweh,  but  keep 

82 


Traditions  of  men.    For  Moses  said,  'Honor 

Thy  father  and  mother';  but  ye,  'If  a  man  shall  say 

To    his    father    or    mother,    "That    wherewith    thou 

mightest 

Have  made  a  profit  by  me  is  Corban,"  meaning 
"Given  to  Jahweh,"  he  may  do  naught  for  them.' 
Thus  ye  make  void  Jah's  word  by  your  traditions." 

Then  spake  he  to  the  multitude,  "Hear  me: 
Nothing  without  a  man  that  goeth  in 
Can  defile  him ;  the  things  that  do  come  out  of  him 
Are  those  that  bring  defilement  to  the  man. 
For  from  within,  out  of  the  heart  of  men, 
Do  evil  thoughts  proceed — all   fornications, 
Murders,  thefts,  adulteries,  covetings, 
Deceit,  lasciviousness,  and  wickedness, 
An  evil  eye,  railing,  foolishness,  pride: 
These  evils  come  from  within,  and  defile  the  man." 
Then  said  he  to  his  disciples,  "Leave  alone 
The  Pharisees,  for  they  are  but  blind  guides; 
And  if  the  blind  shall  lead  the  blind,  then  both 
Shall  fall  into  a  pit." 

From  thence  he  arose 

And  went  into  the  borders  of  Tyre  and  Sidon, 
And  entered  a  house,  and  would  have  no  man  know  it, 

83 


But  he  could  not  be  hid.     For  a  certain  woman, 
Whose  daughter  had  an  unclean  spirit,  had  heard 
Of  him,  and  came  and  fell  at  his  feet — a  Greek, 
A  Syrophenician  by  nation.    She  besought 
That  he  would  cast  the  devil  forth  from  her  child, 
But  he  did  answer  not. 

Then  his  disciples 

Besought  him,  saying,  "Send  her  away,  for  she 
Is  crying  after  us."   "Let  the  children  first 
Be  filled,"  he  said:  "for  it  is  not  meet  to  take 
The  children's  bread  and  cast  it  to  the  dogs." 
She  said,  "  'Tis  true,  my  lord ;  and  yet  the  dogs 
Eat  of   the  crumbs  which   fall   from  their  master's 

table." 

Then  Jesus  answered,  "Woman,  great  is  thy  faith: 
Be  it  to  thee  even  as  thou  wilt." 
And  from  that  hour  her  daughter  was  made  whole. 

And  again  he  came  to  the  sea  of  Galilee, 
Through  the  midst  of  the  coasts  of  Decapolis.    They 

bring 

To  him  a  deaf  man  having  impediment 
Of  speech.    He  took  him  aside  from  the  multitude, 
And  putting  his  fingers  into  his  ears  he  spit 
And  touched  his  tongue ;  and  looking  towards  the  sky 

84 


U 


* 


1 


He   sighed   and   said,   "Ephphatha"    (that   is,   "Be 

opened" ) . 
Straightway  his  ears  were  open  and  his  tongue  was 

loose. 

Those  days  the  multitude  was  very  great; 
And,  having  nothing  to  eat,  the  Prophet  called 
His  disciples  and  said,  "Compassion  have  I  upon 
These  folk  for  they  have  been  with  me  three  days 
And  have  no  food.    I  will  not  send  them  away 
So  hungry,  lest  they  faint  upon  the  way — 
Since  divers  of  them  have  come  from  very  far." 
Then  said  his  disciples  to  him,  "Whence  should  we 

have 

Such  quantities  of  bread  in  the  wilderness 
To  satisfy  so  great  a  multitude?" 
"How  many  loaves  have  ye?"  then  Jesus  asked. 
They  answered,  "Seven,  and  too  some  little  fishes." 
So  Jesus  bade  the  people  sit  on  the  ground, 
And  taking  the  loaves  and  fishes  he  gave  up  thanks, 
He  brake  them,  and  gave  to  his  followers ;  and  they, 
To  the  multitude !   They  ate  and  were  filled ;  and  they 

took 

Of  the  broken  meat  that  was  left  full  seven  baskets ! 
And  those  that  ate  were  full  four  thousand  men, 

85 


Beside  the  women  and  children !    He  sent  them  away, 
Embarked  on  a  boat,  and  went  to  Magdala. 

The  Pharisees  and  Sadducees  came  forth, 
And  in  order  to  try  him  asked  him  to  show  a  sign 
From  heaven.   He  answered,  "When  it  is  evening,  ye 

say, 

'It  will  be  fair,  for  the  sky  is  red';  and  again 
In  the  morning,  'It  will  be  wretched  weather  today, 
Because  the  heaven  is  red  and  lowering.' 
And  when  ye  perceive  a  cloud  rising  to  west, 
Ye  quoth,  'There  cometh  a  shower';  and  so  it  comes. 
And  when  a  south  wind  blows,  'There'll  be  great 

heat',— 

And  so  it  is.   Ye  hypocrites,  ye  know 
How  to  interpret  the  face  of  the  earth  and  sky; 
But  ye  cannot  discern  the  signs  of  the  time.   An  evil, 
Adulterous  generation  seeketh  a  sign, 
But  none  shall  be  given  except  the  sign  of  Jonah !" 

Unto  his  followers  he  said,  "Beware 
The  leaven  of  the  Pharisees  and  Herod." 

They  came  to  Bethsaida,  and  there  was  brought 
To  Jesus  a  blind  man  that  he  might  be  cured. 
So  Jesus  took  him  by  the  hand  and  led  him 
Out  of  the  village;  and,  spitting  on  his  eyes, 

86 


He  laid  his  hands  on  him  and  asked,  "Canst  thou 
See  aught?"   He  looked,  and  answered,  "I  see  men — 
Like  trees — walking."    Then  Jesus  laid  his  hands 
Again  upon  his  eyes,  and  steadfastly 
He  gazed,  and  had  his  sight  restored,  and  saw. 

And  now  he  began  to  teach  his  followers 
That  he,  the  Son  of  Man,  must  suffer  much, 
And  be  rejected  by  the  elders  and  priests, 
Be  put  to  death,  yet  rise  within  three  days — 
For  such  he  did  believe  that  he  would  do. 
But  Peter  took  him,  because  he  could  not  endure 
The  thought,  and  began  to  rebuke  him.    Then  Jesus 

turned, 

And  seeing  his  disciples  rebuked  Peter, 
Saying  to  him,  "Get  thee  behind  me,  Satan — 
Thou  mindest  not  the  things  of  God,  but  of  men!" 

After  a  while  Jesus  taketh  with  him 
Peter  and  James  and  John,  and  bringeth  them  up 
Into  a  high  mountain  apart  by  themselves; 
And  Jesus  went  forward  a  little  to  pray  alone. 

And  as  he  prayed,  behold!  his  countenance 
Was  altered,  becoming  even  more  beautiful; 
His  garments  glistened,  dazzling,  exceeding  white — 
So,  as  no  fuller  on  earth  can  whiten  them. 

87 


There  appeared  two  men,   who  stood  and  talked 

with  him — 

Elijah  and  Moses,  who  came  in  glory,  and  spake 
Of  his  decease  which  he  was  about  to  accomplish 
Soon  at  Jerusalem.    Now  Peter  and  they 
That  were  with  Jesus  were  tired  and  heavy  with  sleep ; 
But  when  they  were  fully  awake,  they  saw  his  glory 
And  those  that  stood  with  him. 

And  it  came  to  pass, 

As  they  were  parting  from  him,  Peter  exclaimed, 
"Master,  'tis  good  for  us  to  be  here ;  now  let  us 
Make  three  tabernacles — one  for  thee, 
And  one  for  Moses,  and  one  for  Elijah,  too," 
Not  knowing  what  he  said.    Yet  while  he  spake, 
There  came  a  cloud  and  overshadowed  them: 
And  they  were  afraid  as  they  entered  into  the  cloud. 
Out  of  the  cloud  there  seemed  to  come  a  voice, 
Which  said,  "This  is  the  Son  of  Man — hear  him." 
But  when  they  suddenly  looked  around,  they  saw 
No  one,  save  only  Jesus  with  themselves. 

As  they   were  coming   down    from  the   mountain, 

Jesus 

Commanded  them  to  tell  no  man  the  vision 
Until  the  son  of  man  rose  from  the  dead. 

88 


They  asked  him,  "Why  then  say  the  scribes  that  first 

Elijah  must  come?"    He  answered,  "Elijah  indeed 

Cometh — he  is  already  come,  but  they 

Have  done  to  him  whatever  they  would.    So  shall 

The  Son  of  Man  also  suffer  of  them." 

Then  did  the  disciples  understand  that  he 

Spake  unto  them  of  John  the  Baptist. 

When  they  had  found  the  people,  there  came  to  him 
A  man,  who  knelt  before  him,  and  said,  "My  lord, 
Have  mercy  upon  my  son,  an  epileptic, 
Who  suffereth  grievously:    for   of  ten-times 
He  falleth  into  the  fire,  and  into  the  water. 
I  brought  him  to  thy  disciples,  who  cured  him  not." 

Then  Jesus  answered  and  said,  "O  generation 
Perverse  and  faithless,  how  long  shall  I  be  with  you? 
How  long  shall  I  bear  with  you? — bring  him  to  me!" 
Jesus  rebuked  the  boy,  and  the  demon  left  him. 
Then  came  the  disciples  apart  to  Jesus,  saying, 
"Why  could  not  we  cast  out  the  demon?"   He  saith, 
"Because  of  your  little  faith :    for  verily, 
If  ye  have  faith  as  a  grain  of  mustard  seed, 
Ye  can  remove  a  mountain  from  its  place; 
And  nothing  shall  be  impossible  for  you." 

While  all  were  marveling  at  the  things  he  did, 

89 


He  said  to  his  disciples,  "Let  these  words 

Sink  into  your  ears :  for  the  Son  of  Man  shall  be 

Delivered  up  into  the  hands  of  men." 

They  understood  this  saying  not,  howe'er, 

And  it  was  concealed  from  them,  that  they  should  not 

Perceive  it ;  they  were  afraid  to  ask  of  it. 

When  they  were  come  to  Capernaum,  the  men 
Who  took  the  temple  tax,  half -shekel,  approached 
The  disciple  Peter  and  said,  "Doth  not  your  teacher 
Pay  the  half-shekel?"   "Yea,"  he  saith.    And  when 
He  came  into  the  house,  Jesus  spake  first 
To  him,  saying,  "What  thinkest  thou,  Simon? 
The  kings  of  the  earth,  from  whom  do  they  receive 
Tribute  and  toll?  from  their  sons,  or  from  strangers?" 
And  when  he  said,  from  strangers,  Jesus  replied, 
"Therefore  the  sons  are  free ;  but  lest  we  cause  them 
To  stumble,  go  thou  to  the  sea,  and  cast  a  hook, 
And  take  the  fish  that  cometh  first ;  and  when 
Thou  hast  opened  his  mouth,  a  shekel  thou  shalt  find : 
Take  that,  and  give  unto  them  for  thee  and  me." 
Thus  runs  the  tradition  the  poets  have  passed  down. 

That  time  his  followers  sought  Jesus,  saying, 
"Who  then  is  the  greatest  in  the  kingdom  of  heaven?" 
(For  on  the  way  to  Capernaum  they  had 

90 


Disputed  one  with  the  other  who  was  the  greatest.) 
He  sat  them  down,  and  calling  a  little  child 
He  set  him  in  the  midst  of  them,  and  said, 
"Except  ye  turn  and  become  as  little  children, 
In  no  wise  shall  ye  enter  the  kingdom  of  heaven. 
Whosoever  shall  humble  himself  therefore 
As  this  small  child,  the  same  also  is  greatest 
In  heaven's  kingdom;  and  whoso  receiveth  one 
Such  little  child  in  my  name  receiveth  me." 

John  said  to  Jesus,  "Master,  we  saw  a  man 
Casting  out  demons  in  thine  own  name;    and  we 
Forbade  him,  because  he  followeth  not  with  us." 
But  Jesus  answered,  "Forbid  him  not:    no  man 
Who  doth  a  mighty  work  in  mine  own  name 
Can  be  able  quickly  to  speak  evil  of  me. 
For  he  that  is  not  against  us  is  for  us ;  and  who 
Shall  give  you  a  cup  of  water  to  drink  because 
Ye  are  Christ's,  then,  verily  I  say  to  you 
In  no  wise  shall  he  lose  his  reward.   But  whosoever 
Shall  cause  to  stumble  one  of  these  little  ones 
That  believe  in  me,  it  were  better  for  him  if  a  great 
Millstone  were  hanged  about  his  neck  and  he 
Were  cast  into  the  sea. 

If  thy  hand  cause  thee 

91 


To  stumble,  cut  it  off :  it  is  good  for  thee 

To  enter  maimed  into  lasting  life,  rather 

Than  having  two  hands  to  go  to  hell,  the  fire 

Unquenchable;    and  if  thy  foot  cause  thee 

To  stumble,  cut  it  off:    it  is  good  for  thee 

To  enter  halt  into  future  life,  rather 

Than  having  two  feet  to  be  cast  into  hell ;  and  if 

Thine  eye  offend  thee,  pluck  it  out,  and  cast 

It  from  thee:  for  it  is  better  to  enter  the  kingdom 

Of  God  with  but  one  eye  than  having  two  eyes 

To  be  cast  in  hell.    For  every  one  shall  be  salted 

With  fire.     The  salt  is  good ;   but  if  the  salt 

Have  lost  its  saltness,  wherewith  shall  ye  season  it? 

Have  salt  in  yourselves,  and  be  at  peace  with  all." 

Now  all  the  publicans  and  pariahs 
Were  drawing  near  to  him  to  hear.   The  scribes 
And  Pharisees  did  murmur,  saying,  "This  man 
Receiveth  sinners,  and  even  eateth  with  them." 
So  Jesus  spoke  this  parable:   "What  man 
Of  you,  having  a  hundred  sheep,  and  having 
Lost  one,  doth  not  leave  there  the  ninety-nine 
In  the  wilderness  and  seek  that  which  is  lost ; 
And  if  he  find  it,  he  lays  it  on  his  shoulders, 
Rejoicing;   and  when  he  cometh  home,  he  calleth 

92 


His  friends  and  neighbors,  saying  to  them,  'Rejoice 
With  me,  for  I  have  found  my  sheep  which  was  lost.' 
I  say  unto  you,  there  is  more  joy  in  heaven 
Because  one  sinner  repenteth  than  over  ninety 
And  nine  righteous  persons,  who  think  they  need 
Not  to  repent. 

What  woman  having  ten  pieces 
Of  silver,  doth  not  light  a  lamp  if  she  lose 
One  piece,  and  sweep  the  house,  diligently 
Searching  until  she  find  it ;  and  when  she  hath  found, 
She  calleth  together  her  friends  and  neighbors,  say 
ing, 

'Rejoice  with  me,  for  I  have  found  the  piece 
Which  I  had  lost.'  Just  so,  I  say  unto  you, 
That  there  is  joy  among  the  angels  of  God 
Over  one  sinner  who  cometh  to  repentance. 

A  certain  man  did  have  two  sons:   the  younger 
Of  them  said  to  his  father,  'Father,  give  me 
The  portion  of  goods  that  falleth  to  me.'    So  he 
Divided  for  them  his  living.     Soon  afterward 
The  younger  son  gathered  his  all  together, 
And  took  his  journey  into  a  far  country, 
And  there  he  wasted  his  substance  with  riotous  living. 

When  he  had  spent  his  all,  there  arose  a  mighty 

93 


Famine,  and  he  began  to  be  in  want. 
He  went  and  joined  himself  to  a  citizen 
Of  that  land,  who  sent  him  out  to  feed  the  swine 
In  the  fields ;  and  he  would  fain  have  filled  his  belly 
With  husks  that  the  swine  did  eat,  for  no  man  gave 
Anything  to  him.    But  when  he  came  to  himself, 
He  said,  'How  many  servants  my  father  hires 
Have  bread  enough  and  to  spare,  while  here  am  I 
Dying  with  hunger!    I  will  arise  and  go 
To  my  father,  and  say  unto  him,  'Father,  I've  sinned 
Against  heaven  and  thee,  and  am  not  worthy  to  be 
Called  thy  son :  make  me  as  one  of  thy  servants.' 
He  arose,  and  came  to  his  father.    But  when  he 

was  yet 

A  great  way  off,  his  father  saw  him,  and  had 
Compassion,  and  ran,  and  fell  on  his  neck,  and  kissed 

him. 

The  son  said  to  him,  'Father,  I  have  sinned 
Against  heaven,  and  in  thy  sight,  and  am  no  more 
Worthy  to  be  called  thy  son.'    But  the  father 
Said  to  his  servants,  'Bring  forth  the  very  best  robe, 
And  put  it  on  him ;  and  put  a  ring  on  his  hand, 
And  shoes  on  his  feet :  bring  hither  the  fatted  calf, 
And  kill  it;  and  let  us  eat  and  be  merry:    for  this 

94 


-: 


My  son  was  dead,  but  is  alive  again ; 

He  was  lost,  but  is  found!'     And  they  began  to  be 

merry. 

Now  his  elder  son  was  in  the  field:  and  as 
He  came  near  to  the  house,  he  heard  music 
And  dancing.  He  called  one  of  the  servants,  and  asked 
What  these  things  meant.   The  servant  said  to  him, 
'Thy  brother  is  come,  and  thy  father  hath  killed  the 

fatted 

Calf,  because  he  hath  received  him  safe 
And  sound.'    And  he  was  angry,  and  wouldn't  go  in : 
Therefore  his  father  came  out,  and  entreated  him. 
He  answering  said  to  his  father,  'Behold,  these 

many 

Years  have  I  served  thee,  I  transgressed  not 
At  any  time  thy  command:  and  yet  thou  never 
Hast  given  me  a  kid  with  which  I  might 
Make  merry  with  my  friends :   but  as  soon  as  this 
Thy  son  is  come,  which  hath  devoured  his  living 
With  harlots,  thou  killst  for  him  the  fatted  calf.' 
The  father  said,  'My  son,  thou  art  ever  with  me, 
And  all  I  have  is  thine.    It  was  meet  that  we 
Should  merry  be  and  glad:    for  this  thy  brother 
Was  dead,  but  lives  again;   was  lost  and  is  found.' 

95 


Take  heed  to  yourselves;  and  if  thy  brother  offend 

thee, 

Rebuke  him  to  his  face ;  and  if  he  be  sorry, 
Forgive  him  quickly;  and  even  if  he  offend  thee 
Seven  times  in  a  day,  and  seven  times 
In  a  day  turn  unto  thee  again,  saying, 
'Forgive  me,  I  am  sorry,'  thou  shalt  forgive." 

Then  one  of  the  company  said  unto  him,  "Master, 
Speak  to  my  brother,  that  he  may  divide  with  me 
The  inheritance."    But  Jesus  replied,  "O  man, 
Who  made  me  a  judge  or  divider  over  you? 
Take  heed,  and  beware  of  covetousness,  for  the  life 
Of  a  man  consisteth  not  in  abundance  of  things 
Which  he  possesseth."    This  parable  he  spake 
To  them : 

"The  ground  of  a  certain  wealthy  man 
Plentifully  brought  forth.    And  he  did  think 
Within  himself,  saying,  'What  shall  I  do, 
Because  I  have  no  room  to  store  my  fruits? 
This  will  I  do — pull  down  my  barns  and  build 
Still  greater,  and  there  will  I  bestow  my  fruits 
And  goods.    And  I  will  say  unto  my  soul, 
'Thou  hast  for  many  years  laid  up  much  goods, 
O  Soul ;  now  take  thine  ease — eat,  drink,  be  merry !' 

96 


But  God  said  unto  him,  'Thou  fool,  this  night 
Thy  soul  shall  be  required  of  thee :  then  whose 
Shall  be  those  worldly  things  which  thou  hast  pro 
vided?' 

So  he  that  layeth  up  treasure  for  himself 
Is  not  rich  toward  his  God.    Therefore  I  say, 
Take  ye  no  thought  for  your  life,  what  ye  shall  eat; 
Nor  for  the  body,  what  ye  shall  put  upon  it. 
The  life  is  more  than  meat,  the  body  than  dress. 
Consider  the  ravens — they  neither  sow  nor  reap; 
Which  neither  storehouse  have  nor  barns,  and  yet 
God  feedeth  them:  and  how  much  more  are  ye 
Better  than  fowls?  And  which  of  you  by  taking 
Thought  can  add  a  cubit  to  his  stature? 
Consider  the  lilies,  how  they  grow :  they  neither 
Toil  nor  spin;  and  yet  I  say  unto  you, 
That  Solomon  in  all  his  glory  was  not 
Arrayed  like  one  of  these.    If  God  so  clothe 
The  grass,  which  is  today  in  the  field,  and  tomorrow 
Is  cast  into  the  oven,  how  much  more 
Will  he  clothe  you,  O  ye  of  little  faith? 

Seek  not  what  ye  shall  eat  or  drink,  nor  be 
Of  doubtful  mind.    For  all  these  things  the  world 
Seeks  after — your   father  knoweth  ye  need  these 

things. 

97 


But  rather  seek  the  Kingdom  of  God,  and  all 

These  things  shall  be  added  to  you.    Fear  not,  little 

flock: 

It  is  the  Father's  pleasure  to  give  you  the  Kingdom. 
Sell  that  ye  have ;  give  alms ;  provide  yourselves 
With  bags  which  wax  not  old,  a  treasure  in  heaven 
That  faileth  not,  where  thieves  do  not  approach 
Nor  moths  corrupt.     For  where  your  treasure  is, 
There  will  your  heart  be  also. 

Then  shall  the  kingdom 

Of  heaven  be  likened  unto  ten  virgins,  which  took 
Their  lamps  and  sallied  forth  to  meet  the  bridegroom. 
Five  of  them  were  wise,  and  five  were  foolish. 
They  that  were  foolish  took  their  lamps,  but.  took 
No  oil  with  them;  the  wise  took  oil  in  vessels 
With  their  lamps.   While  the  bridegroom  tarried,  they 

slumbered 

And  slept.    At  midnight  a  cry  was  made,  — 'Behold, 
The  bridegroom  cometh — go  ye  out  to  meet  him!' 
Then  all  those  virgins  arose,  and  trimmed  their  lamps. 
And  the  foolish  said  unto  the  wise,  'Give  us 
Some  oil — our  lamps  have  gone  out!'    The  wise  re 
plied, 
'Not  so,  lest  there  be  not  enough  for  us 

98 


And  you;  but  go  ye  rather  to  them  that  sell, 

And  buy  for  yourselves.'  And  when  they  went  to  buy, 

The  bridegroom  came;  and  they  that  were  ready 

went  in 
With  him  to  the  marriage,  and  then  the  door  was 

shut. 

Afterward  came  the  other  virgins  also, 
Saying,  'Lord,  open  to  us !'   But  he  answered  them, 
'Truly  I  say  unto  you,  I  know  you  not.' 

The  Kingdom  of  heaven  is  as  a  man  who  traveled 
Into  a  far  country,  who  called  his  servants 
And  charged  them  with  his  goods :    to  one  he  gave 
Five  talents,  another  two,  and  another  one — 
To  each  according  to  his  ability; 
And   straightway  journeyed.    Then  he  that  had  re 
ceived 

Five  talents  went  and  traded  with  the  same, 
And  made  them  other  five.     So  likewise  he 
That  had  received  the  two,  he  also  gained 
Another  two.    But  he  that  had  received 
One  talent  went  and  digged  within  the  earth, 
And  hid  therein  the  money  of  his  lord. 

After  a  time  the  master  returned,  and  reckoned 
With  them.    So  he  that  had  received  five  talents 

99 


Brought  them  and  other  five,  and  said,  'O  lord, 
Thou  didst  deliver  to  me  five  talents :  behold, 
Five  talents  more  besides  them  have  I  gained!' 

His   master   replied,    'Well   done,   thou   good   and 

faithful 

Servant;  thou  hast  been  faithful  over  few  things, 
I'll  make  thee  ruler  over  many  things: 
Share  thou  the  joy  of  thy  lord.'    He  also  that  had 
Received  two  talents  came  and  said,  'O  lord, 
Thou  didst  deliver  to  me  two  talents :  behold, 
Two  talents  more  besides  them  have  I  gained!' 

His  master  replied,  'Well  done,  thou  good  and 

faithful 

Servant;  thou  hast  been  faithful  over  few  things, 
I'll  make  thee  ruler  over  many  things: 
Share  thou  the  joy  of  thy  lord.'   Then  he  that  had 
Received  one  talent  came  and  said,  *O  lord, 
I  knew  thou  art  an  austere  man,  reaping 
Where  thou  hast  never  sown,  and  gathering  where 
Thou  hast  not  strewed:   and  I  was  afraid,  and  went 
And  hid  thy  talent  in  the  earth:  behold, 
Here  hast  thou  that  which  is  thine  own/ 

His  lord 
Made  answer:  'Thou  wicked  and  slothful  servant, 

thou  knewst 

100 


I  reap  where  I  sowed  not,  and  gather  where  I 
Have  never  strewn.    Thou  oughtest  to  have  put 
Therefore  my  money  to  the  exchangers,  and  then 
At  my  coming  should  I  have  received  with  usury 
Mine  own.    Take  therefore  from  him  the  talent,  and 

give  it 

To  him  who  hath  ten  talents.     To  every  one 
That  hath   shall   be  given,   and   abundance   shall  he 

have; 
From  him  who  haveth  not  all  shall  be  taken. 

About  that  time  there  came  some  Pharisees, 
Who  said  to  Jesus,  "Get  thee  out — go  hence: 
For  Herod  would  fain  kill  thee."   He  answered  them, 
"Go,  say  unto  that  fox,  Behold,  I  cast 
Out  demons  and  perform  my  cures  today, 
Tomorrow ;  the  third  day  I  am  finished.    However, 
I  must  walk  today  and  tomorrow,  and  too 
The  following  day :  for  it  cannot  be  that  a  prophet 
Perish  out  of  Jerusalem." 

And  it  came  to  pass,  when  the  days  were  well-nigh 

come 

That  he  should  meet  his  end,  he  set  his  face 
Steadfastly  to  go  to  Jerusalem,  and  sent 
His  messengers  ahead  of  him.   They  went, 

101 


And  entered  into  a  town  of  Samaria 
To  prepare  for  him.    But  he  was  not  received, 
Because  his   face  was  set  toward  Jerusalem. 
When  James  and  John  his  disciples  noticed  this, 
They  cried,  "Wilt  thou  that  we  bid  fire  descend 
From  heaven,  lord,  and  consume  them?"  The  prophet 

turned 

And  rebuked  them.    Then  they  went  to  another  vil 
lage. 

So  as  they  went  upon  their  way,  a  man 
Said  unto  him,  "I  will  follow  thee  where'er 
Thou  goest."    Jesus  replied,  "The  foxes  have  holes, 
And  the  birds  of  heaven  have  nests ;  but  the  Son  of 

Man 

Hath  not  a  place  to  lay  his  head."    To  another 
He  said,  "Come,  follow  me."   But  the  answer  was, 
"Sir,  suffer  me  first  to  go  and  bury  my  father." 
Then  Jesus  said,  "Leave  the  dead  to  bury  the  dead : 
Go  thou  and  publish  abroad  the  kingdom  of  God." 
Another  also  said,  "I  will  follow  thee; 
But  suffer  me  first  to  bid  farewell  to  them 
That  are  at  home."    But  Jesus  answered  him, 
"No   man,   having  put   his   hand   to   the   plow,   and 
looking 

102 


Backward,  is  fit  for  the  kingdom  of  God." 

Now  a  certain  man  was  sick,  named  Lazarus, 
Of  Bethany,  the  town  of  Mary  and  Martha. 
Therefore  his  sisters  sent  to  Jesus,  saying, 
"Master,  behold,  he  whom  thou  lovest  is  sick." 
Now  Christ  loved  Martha,  and  Mary,  and  Lazarus; 
But  still  he  abode  two  days  in  the  place  where  he  was 
After  he  heard  that  Lazarus  was  sick; 
And  then  he  said  to  his  disciples,  "Again 
Let  us  return  to  Jewry." 

They  replied, 
"O  teacher,  the  Jews  of  late  have  sought  to  stone 

thee; 

Yet  goeth  thou  thither  again?"  Jesus  answered, 
"But  are  there  not  twelve  hours  in  a  day? 
Who  walketh  in  the  day  doth  stumble  not, 
Because  he  seeth  the  light  that  is  in  this  world; 
But  if  he  walk  in  the  night  he  stumbleth,  because 
There  is  no  light  in  him."    These  things  said  he; 
And  after,  "Lazarus  our  friend  is  sleeping; 
Yet  will  I  go  to  wake  him  out  of  sleep." 
Then  said  they,  "Lord,  if  he  sleep,  he  shall  do  well." 
Howbeit  Jesus  spake  of  his  death:  they  thought 
He  spake  of  taking  rest  in  sleep.    So  Jesus 

103 


Said  to  them  plainly,  "Lazarus  is  dead." 
Then  Thomas  said  (who  was  called  Didymus) 
Unto  his  fellow  disciples,  "Let  us  go  too, 
That  we  may  die  with  him." 

When  Jesus  came, 

He  found  that  he  had  lain  within  the  grave 
Four  days  already.     Now  Bethany  was  nigh 
Jerusalem,  about  fifteen  furlongs  off: 
And  many  Jews  had  come  to  Mary  and  Martha 
To  comfort  them  concerning  their  brother.       Then 

Martha, 

As  soon  as  she  heard  that  Jesus  was  coming,  went  out 
To  meet  him,  but  Mary  stayed  in  the  house.     Said 

Martha 

To  Jesus,  "Lord,  if  only  thou  hadst  been  here, 
My  brother  had  not  died.     But  still  I  know, 
That  even  now,  whatever  thou  ask  of  God, 
He'll  give  it  thee."    Then  Jesus  saith  to  her, 
"Thy  brother  shall  rise  again."     Martha  replied, 
I  know  that  he  shall  rise  again  the  last 
Day  at  the  resurrection."    Jesus  said, 
"I  am  the  resurrection  and  the  life; 
He  that  believeth  in  me  shall  never  die. 
Believest  thou  me?"  She  answered,  "Yea,  I  believe 

104 


Thou   art   the   Christ,   which    should   come   into   the 

world." 

Then  called  she  her  sister  Mary  secretly,  saying, 
"The  master  is  come,  and  calleth  for  thee."    As  soon 
As  Mary  heard  it,  she  rose  and  quickly  came. 
Now  Jesus  was  not  yet  come  into  the  town, 
But  tarried  in  the  place  where  Martha  met  him. 

The  Jews  thought  Mary  went  to  the  grave  to  weep ; 
But  she  sought  Jesus,  and  falling  at  his  feet 
She  cried,  "If  only  thou  hadst  been  here,  Lord, 
My  brother  had  not  died!"    When  Jesus  saw  her 
Weeping  and  too  the  Jews  who  came  with  her, 
He  groaned  in  spirit,  sorely  troubled,  and  said, 
"Where  have  ye  laid  him?"     They  answered,  "Come 

and  see." 

And  Jesus  wept.    Then  said  the  Jews,  "Behold, 
How  Jesus  loved  him!"     Some  of  them  whispered, 

"Could  not 
This  man,  who  opened  the  eyes  of  the  blind,  have 

caused 

That  even  Lazarus  should  not  have  died?" 
Again  groaning,  Jesus  came  to  the  grave, 
Which  was  a  cave,  with  a  stone  lying  upon  it. 
Jesus  commanded,  "Take  away  the  stone." 

105 


Martha  replied,  "By  now  he  stinketh,  lord, 

For  he  is  dead  four  days."     But  Jesus  answered, 

"Said  I  not  unto  thee,  if  thou  believe, 

Thou  shouldest  see  the  glory  of  God?"    They  took 

Away  the  stone  from  the  place  where  the  dead  was 

laid; 

And  Jesus  lifted  up  his  eyes,  and  said, 
"I  thank  thee,  Father,  that  thou  hast  listened  to  me !" 
When  he  had  spoken,  he  cried  aloud,  "Come  forth, 
O  Lazarus !"    The  dead  came  forth,  bound  hand 
And   foot  with  graveclothes,  his   face  bound  with  a 

napkin. 
Then  Jesus  said,  "Loose  him,  and  let  him  go." 

So  some  Jews  followed  Jesus,  but  others  went 
To  the  Pharisees  and  told  them  what  Jesus  had  done. 
Then  gathered  the  priests  and  Pharisees  a  council; — 
"What  do  we?    This  man  doth  many  miracles. 
If  we  let  him  alone,  all  men  will  follow 
Him;  and  the  Romans  will  come  and  take  away 
Our  places  and  our  nation !"    One  of  them, 
Named  Caiaphas,  being  high-priest  that  year, 
Said  unto  them,  "Ye  know  nothing  at  all, 
Nor  consider  it  is  expedient  for  us, 
That  for  the  people  this  one  man  should  die, 

106 


So  that  the  entire  nation  perish  not." 

He  spake  this  not  of  himself ;  but  being  that  year 

High-priest,  he  prophesied  that  the  Christ  should  die 

For  all  the  nation ;  and  not  for  Jewry  only, 

But  that  he  should  gather  together  in  one  also 

The  children  of  Jahweh  scattered  through  the  world. 

From  that  day  forth  they  planned  to  put  him  to  death. 

So  Jesus  went  on  to  prepare  his  followers 
To  do  his  work  when  he  should  be  with  them 
No  more,  and  thus  he  spoke  to  them :  "O  ye 
Who  are  disciples  of  me,  the  son  of  man, 
Maintain  your  courage  against  adversity 
And  labor  diligently  for  the  kingdom  of  God, 
Which  is  not  far  away.    Behold,  I  say, 
It  is  already  here  within  your  midst, 
Yea,  even  within  yourselves.    Work  on,  my  flock, 
Considering  not  the  dangers  that  men  can  bring 
To  you,  for  your  reward  shall  be  for  ever. 

Stay  not  too  near  your  homes,  since  there  few  men 
Will  give  you  heed.     Did  I  not  go  with  some 
Of  you  who  are  before  me  to  Nazareth, 
To  do  my  mighty  works,  and  have  them  seek 
To  lay  their  hands  on  me,  because,  they  said, 
I  was  beside  myself?    A  prophet  is  mad 

107 


To  those  who  knew  him  when  he  was  a  boy. 
Beware  therefore  of  friends  and  relatives, 
Who  would  secure  you  fast  with  many  thongs 
And  lock  you  up  for  a  season  forcibly 
That  ye  might  have  recovery  from  madness. 
Woe  unto  them  who  would  restrain  a  prophet 
Of  God !    Woe  unto  them !    Woe  unto  them !" 


108 


BOOK  V 

THEN  there  were  brought  unto  him  little  children, 
That  he  should  lay  his  hands  on  them  and  pray: 
The  disciples  scolded  them,  but  Jesus  said, 
"Suffer  the  little  children,  forbidding  them  not 
To  come  to  me — for  of  such  is  the  kingdom  of  God." 
He  laid  his  hands  on  them  and  departed  thence. 

Behold,  a  rich  man  came  to  him  and  said, 
"Teacher,  what  good  things  shall  I  do  that  I 
May  have  eternal  life?"  "Keep  the  commandments." 
"Which  ?"  "Thou  shalt  not  kill,  Thou  shalt  not  steal, 
Thou  shalt  not  commit  adultery,  nor  bear 
False  witness,  But  honor  thy  father  and  thy  mother, 
And  thou  shalt  love  thy  neighbor  as  thyself." 
The    young    man    answered,    "These    things    have    I 

observed : 

What  lack  I  yet?"    "If  thou  wouldst  be  perfect, 
Go  sell  that  which  thou  hast,  and  give  to  the  poor, 
Then  shalt  thou  have  a  treasure  in  heaven.  And  come, 
And  follow  me."    But  when  the  young  man  heard 
The  saying,  sorrowfully  he  went  away: 

109 


For  he  was  one  who  had  ample  possessions. 

Then  Jesus  said  to  his  disciples,  "Truly, 
I  say  unto  you,  That  it  is  hard  for  a  man 
Of  wealth  to  enter  the  kingdom  of  God.     For  it 
Is  easier  for  a  camel  to  enter  into 
Jerusalem  through  the  Needle's  Eye,  than  a  rich  man 
To  enter  the  kingdom  of  God !"  They  were  astonished 
And  questioned,  "Who  can  be  saved?"    Jesus,  looking 
Upon  them,  said,  "All  things  are  possible 
With  God"  (such  faith  had  Jesus  in  his  God!). 
Peter  began  to  say,  "Lo,  we  left  all 
And  followed  thee;  what  then  shall  we  obtain?" 
"Truly,  there  is  no  man  that  hath  left  house, 
Or  brothers,  sisters,  mother,  father,  or  children, 
Or  lands,  for  my  sake  and  the  gospel's  sake, 
But  he  shall  receive  an  hundred- fold  this  time, — 
With  persecutions,  surely ;  but  in  the  world 
To  come,  eternal  life.     Many  that  seem 
To  be  the  first  in  this,  shall  be  the  last ; 
And  many  that  seem  last  shall  be  the  first !" 

So  then  he  spake :  "There  was  a  certain  rich  man, 
Who  had  a  steward ;  the  same  was  accused  to  him 
That  he  was  wasting  his  goods.     So  he  called  the 
steward 

110 


And  said,  'What's  this  I  hear  of  thee?  render 
To  me  the  account  of  thy  stewardship :  for  thou 
Canst  be  no  longer  steward.'    The  steward  said 
To  himself,  "What  shall  I  do,  seeing  my  lord 
Taketh  the  stewardship  from  me?     I  have 
No  strength  to  dig,  and  to  beg  I  am  ashamed. 
I  am  resolved  what  I  shall  do,  that  when 
I  am  dismissed,  they  take  me  into  their  houses.' 

"So  calling  to  him  each  of  his  master's  debtors, 
He  said  to  the  first,  'How  much  dost  owe  my  lord?' 
He  answered,  'A  hundred  measures  of  oil.'    He  said, 
'Take  thou  thy  bond,  sit  down  and  quickly  write  me 
Fifty.'    Then  to  another:  'How  much  owest  thou?' 
'A  hundred  measures  of  wheat.'    'Then  take  thy  bond 
And  write  fourscore.'    The  master  commended  then 
His  unrighteous  steward  because  he  had  done  wisely: 
Indeed,  the  children  of  this  world  know  all! 

"I  say  to  you,  wise  men,  make  to  yourselves 
By  means  of  unrighteous  Mammon  many  friends, 
That  when  the  one  shall  fail  the  others  receive  you 
Into  eternal  tabernacles. 
He  that  is  faithful  in  little  is  faithful  also 
In  much ;  and  he  that  is  unrighteous  in  little 
Is  unrighteous  also  in  much.    So  if  therefore 

111 


Ye  have  not  been  faithful  in  unjust  Mammon,  who 

will 

Commit  true  riches  to  your  trust? 
If  ye  have  been  unfaithful  in  that  which  is 
Another's,  who  will  give  you  what  is  your  own?" 

The  Pharisees,  who  were  miserly  lovers  of  money, 
Heard  all  these  speeches,  and  they  did  scoff  at  him. 
He  said  to  them:  "Ye  are  the  very  ones 
That  justify  yourselves  in  the  sight  of  men; 
But  God  doth  know  your  hearts :  for  that  which  is 
Exalted  with  men  is  abomination  to  God. 

"There  was  a  certain  rich  man,  and  he  was  clothed 
In  purple  and  fine  linen,  sumptuously 
Faring  every  day;  a  certain  beggar 
Named  Lazarus,  full  of  sores,  was  laid  at  his  gate, 
Desirous  of  being  fed  with  the  crumbs  that  fell 
From  the  rich  man's  table ;  yea,  even  the  very  dogs 
Did  come  and  lick  his  sores.    It  came  to  pass, 
That  the  beggar  died,  and  was  borne  away  by  angels 
Into  the  bosom  of  Abraham;  the  rich  man 
Also  died,  and  was  buried.    In  Hades  he  lifted 
Upward  his  eyes,  being  in  torments,  and  seeth 
Abram  far  off,  and  Lazarus  in  his  bosom. 

"He  cried,  'O  Abraham,  have  mercy  on  me, 

112 


And  send  me  Lazarus,  that  he  may  dip 
The  tip  of  his  finger  in  water  and  cool  my  tongue: 
For  I  am  tormented  in  this  awful  flame!' 
But  Abraham  said,  'My  son,  remember  that  thou 
In  thy  lifetime  receivedst  thy  good  things,  and  like 
wise 

Lazarus  evil  things;  but  now  thou  art 
Tormented,  and  he  is  comforted.     Besides, 
'Twixt  us  and  you  there  is  a  great  gulf  fixed: 
So  who  would  pass  from  hence  to  you  can  not; 
Nor  thence  to  us/ 

!         "Then  cried  the  rich  man  out : 
'I  pray  thee,  therefore,  father,  that  thou  send 
Him  to  my  father's  house  and  my  five  brothers, 
That  he  may  testify  to  them,  lest  they 
Come  also  into  this  dreadful  place  of  torment!' 
Abram  answered,  'They  have  Moses  and  the  prophets : 
Let  them  hear  them.'    'Nay,  father  Abraham/ 
The  man  replied ;  'but  if  one  went  to  them 
From  the  dead,  they  will  repent.'  Abraham  answered, 
'If  they  hear  not  the  prophets  and  Moses,  neither 
Will  they  be  persuaded  tho'  one  rose  from  the  dead/  " 

Then  Jesus  spake  a  parable,  and  said : 
"The  kingdom  of  God  is  like  unto  a  man 

113 


That  was  an  householder,  who  went  out  early, 
To  hire  laborers  in  the  morning  hours, 
Into  his  vineyard.    And  when  he  had  agreed 
With  the  laborers  for  a  shilling  a  day,  he  sent  them 
Into  his  vineyard.    And  then  about  third  hour 
He  went  again,  and  saw  some  others  standing 
Idle  there  in  the  marketplace,  to  whom 
He  said,  'Go  ye  out  into  the  vineyard  too, 
And  whatsoever  is  right  I'll  give  it  you.' 
They  went  their  way.    Again  he  went  about 
The  sixth  and  the  ninth  hour,  and  did  likewise. 
About  eleventh  hour  he  found  more  standing, 
And  he  spoke  unto  them,  'Why  stand  ye  here 
Idle  all  day?'    They  answered,  'Because  no  man 
Hath  hired  us.'    He  saith  to  them,  'Go  ye 
Also  into  the  vineyard.' 

"When  even  was  come, 

The  master  of  the  vineyard  saith  to  his  steward, 
'Call  the  laborers  and  pay  them  their  hire, 
Beginning  with  the  last,  unto  the  first.' 
And  when  they  came  that  were  hired  the  eleventh 

hour, 

They  got  each  man  a  shilling.    And  when  the  first 
Had  come,  they  expected  more;  but  they  likewise 

114 


From  an  oil  painting  by  P.  &  L.  Wells] 

BETHLEHEM   MARKET-PLACE. 


Received  each  man  a  shilling.  When  they  received  it, 
They  murmured  against  the  householder,  and  said, 
'These  last  have  spent  only  one  hour,  and  thou 
Hast  made  them  equal  unto  us,  who  have  borne 
The  burden  of  the  day  and  the  scorching  heat.' 
But  he  replied  to  one  of  them,  'My  friend, 
I  do  thee  no  wrong:  for  didst  thou  not  agree 
With  me  for  a  shilling?  Take  up  that  which  is  thine, 
And  go  thy  way ;  it  is  my  will  to  give 
Unto  this  last  even  as  unto  thee. 
Is  it  not  lawful  for  me  to  do  what  I  will 
With  mine  own  ?  Is  thine  eye  bad  because  I  am  good  ? 
So  the  last  shall  be  first,  and  the  first,  last.' ' 
He  took  the  twelve  aside,  and  said  to  them, 
"Behold,  we  are  going  up  to  Jerusalem, 
To  accomplish  those  things  written  by  the  prophets 
Concerning  the  Son  of  Man,  for  they  must  be 
Fulfilled  assuredly.     Unto  the  Gentiles 
He  must  be  handed  over,  and  spitefully  treated, 
And  spit  upon,  and  mocked.     And  they  shall  scourge 

him, 
And  put  him  to  death.     But  the  third  day  he  shall 

rise." 
(Thus  sang  the  poets  evangelical!) 

115 


But  they  of  course  could  never  understand 
The  mysterious  things  the  Son  of  Man  told  them. 
Only  the  Russellites  and  Adventists 
And  miracle-eating  Presbyterians 
And  conservative  Methodists  and  Holy  Rollers 
And  jumping  Judases  and  Calvinists 
Bedevilled  and  other  predestinarians 
Can  really  comprehend  miraculous  words. 

As  he  entered  a  certain  village,  behold  ten  men 
That  were  lepers  met  him,  standing  off  afar, 
And  they  cried  aloud,  "Master,  have  mercy  on  us !" 

He    answered,    "Go    show    yourselves    unto    the 

priests." 

And  as  it  passed,  they  went  and  all  were  cleansed ; 
And  one  of  them  turned  back  and  fell  at  the  feet 
Of  Jesus,  giving  him  thanks — a  Samaritan. 

"Were  not  ten  cleansed?    But  where  are  now  the 

nine? 

There  are  not  found  that  came  to  give  glory  to  Jah, 
Save  only  this  stranger.    Arise  and  go — thy  faith 
Hath  made  thee  whole." 

That  season  some  told  him 
Of  Galileans,  whose  blood  Pilate  had  mixed 
With  their  sacrifices.     Jesus  said  angrily, 

116 


"Suppose  ye  that  these  Galileans  were  sinners 
More  than  all,  because  they  suffered  such? 
I  tell  you,  Nay:  ye  all  shall  likewise  perish, 
Except  ye  repent.     Or  those  eighteen,  on  whom 
The  tower  fell  in  Siloam,  slaying  them, 
Think  ye  that  they  were  sinners  above  all  men 
That  dwelt  in  Jerusalem?    I  tell  you,  Nay: 
Except  ye  repent,  ye  all  shall  likewise  perish. 

"A  certain  man  had  a  fig  tree  in  his  yard. 
He  came  and  sought  for  fruit,  but  there  was  none. 
Then  said  he  to  the  dresser,  'These  three  years 
I  sought  fruit  on  this  fig  tree,  but  found  none. 
Come,  cut  it  down :  why  cumbereth  it  the  ground  ?' 
The  other  answered,  'Master,  let  it  be 
This  year  also,  till  I  shall  dig  about  it 
And  dung  it;  and  if  it  then  bear  fruit,  so  well; 
If  not,  then  after  shalt  thou  cut  it  down'." 

Then  he  continued  on,  but  many  followed 
To  hear  him  speak.    There  were  some  Pharisees, 
Who  tempted  him  by  asking,  "Is  it  lawful 
For  a  man  to  put  away  his  wife  for  every  cause?" 
He  answered,  "Have  ye  not  read,  that  he  who  made 

them 
At  the  beginning  made  them  male  and  female, 

117 


And  said,  'For  this  cause  shall  a  man  leave  father 
And  mother,  but  cling  to  his  wife :  they  two  shall  be 
One  flesh  ?'    Therefore  they  are  not  two,  but  one. 
Whom  God  hath  joined,  let  no  man  put  asunder." 

They  said,  "Why  then  did  Moses  give  command 
To  give  a  writ  of  divorce  and  put  her  away?" 

He  answered,  "Because  of  the  hardness  of  your 

hearts 

Moses  allowed  you  to  put  away  your  wives : 
But  from  the  beginning  it  was  not  so.     I  say, 
Whosoever  shall  put  away  his  wife,  except 
For  fornication,  and  marry  another,  committeth 
Adultery;  and  whoso  marrieth  her 
That  is  put  away  committeth  adultery." 

After,  when  he  had  been  invited  to  dine 
With  superficial  people  who  chose  chief  rooms, 
He  gave  this  parable: 

"A  certain  man 

Gave  a  great  supper,  inviting  many,  and  sent 
His  servant  at  supper  time  to  say  to  them 
That  were  bidden,  'Come — all  things  are  ready  now.' 
They  all  with  one  consent  did  make  excuse. 
The  first :  'I've  bought  a  piece  of  ground,  and  needs 
Must  go  and  see  it :  I  pray  thee  have  me  excused.' 

118 


Another  said :  Tve  bought  five  yoke  of  oxen ; 

I  go  to  prove  them — pray  have  me  excused.' 

Another  said :  'I've  married  a  wife,  and  so 

I  can  not  come.'    Therefore  the  servant  came 

Reporting  this.     The  master  being  angry 

Said  to  his  servant:  'Go  quickly  out  to  the  streets 

And  lanes  of    the    town,    and    bring    the    poor,    the 

maimed, 

The  halt  and  the  blind.    For  I  say,  that  none  of  those 
Who  were  invited  shall  have  a  taste  of  my  supper.' 
So  when  thou  art  bidden  of  any  man  to  a  wedding, 
Sit  not  down  in  the  highest  place,  lest  a  worthier  man 
Be  given  thy  place,  and  thou  with  shame  must  take 
The  lower  seat.     High  place  is  vanity." 

Soon  James  and  John,  the  sons  of  Zebedee, 
Came  to  him,  saying:  "Master,  we  would  that  thou 
Shouldst  do  for  us  whatever  we  desire." 
He  asked,  "And  what  is  that?"    "Grant  us  to  sit, 
One  on  thy  right,  the  other  on  thy  left, 
In  glory."   But  Jesus  said,  "Ye  know  not  what 
Ye  ask.    Ye  can  not  drink  of  the  cup  I  drink. 
Whoso  shall  be  among  you  great,  shall  be 
Your  minister.     And  whosoever  of  you 
Will  be  the  chief est,  shall  be  the  servant  of  all. 

119 


The  Son  of  Man  came  but  to  minister." 

And  Jesus  entered  and  passed  through  Jericho. 
And  behold,  Zaccheus,  chief  of  publicans, 
And  rich,  was  there ;  and  he  endeavored  to  see 
Jesus,  but  could  not  for  the  press,  because 
He  was  of  little  stature.    He  ran  before, 
And  climbed  a  sycamore  that  he  might  see, 
For  Jesus  was  to  pass  that  way.    And  when 
Jesus  looked  up  and  saw  him,  he  said,  "Zaccheus, 
Make  haste — come  down — for  I  must  stay  today 
With  thee."    So  he  came  down  in  haste  to  receive 
With  joy  the  Son  of  Man.    But  when  the  rest 
Perceived  it,  they  all  murmured,  saying  that  he 
Had  gone  to  be  a  guest  of  a  sinning  man ; 
But  Jesus  gave  a  blessing  to  his  house. 

Then  came  together  the  chief est  priests,  and  scribes, 
And  elders  of  the  people,  to  Caiaphas'  palace, 
With  Satan  at  their  head,  invisible, 
And  they  consulted  how  they  might  take  Jesus 
By  subtlety  and  kill  him.     But  they  said, 
"Not  on  a  feast  day,  lest  there  be  an  uproar 
Among  the  people." 

Now  when  the  Son  of  Man 
Was  there  in  Bethany,  in  the  house  of  a  leper, 

120 


From  an  oil  painting  by  P.  &  L.  Wells] 

JORDANT    RIVER. 


Mary  Magdalene  came  unto  him 

With  an  alabaster  box  of  precious  ointment — 

Spikenard  very  precious.     She  broke  the  box, 

And  poured  it  on  his  head  as  he  sat  at  meat. 

When  his  disciples  saw  it,  they  were  indignant, 

And    grumbled,    saying,    "What    purpose    has    this 

waste  ? 

She  might  have  sold  this  ointment  for  a  lot, 
And  given  it  to  the  poor."    The  Prophet  quickly 
Comprehended,  and  said,  "Why  trouble  ye 
This  woman?  for  she  hath  done  a  goodly  work 
For  me.    The  poor  are  always  with  you,  but  me 
Ye  have  not  always.    For  in  that  she  hath  poured 
This  ointment  on  my  body,  she  hath  done 
It  for  my  death.    Wherever  this  story  is  told, 
What  Mary  hath  done  shall  be  a  memorial." 

When  he  had  set  out  for  Jerusalem, 
And  had  come  nigh,  he  sent  forth  two  disciples, 
Saying,  "Go  into  the  village,  where  ye  shall  find 
A  colt  on  which  no  man  has  sat;  loose  him, 
And  bring  him  here.    If  anybody  asks 
What  ye  are  doing,  say  that  the  master  hath 
A  need  of  him,  and  he  will  send  him  hither." 
They  went  and  found  the  colt  tied  by  the  door, 

121 


And  brought  him  to  Jesus,  and  cast  their  garments  on 

him, 

And  Jesus  sat  upon  him.    And  many  spread 
Their  garments  in  the  way,  and  others  cut 
Down  branches  off  the  trees,  and  strewed  the  way. 
Some  went  before  and  others  followed,  crying, 
"Hosanna!  Blessed  who  comes  in  the  Master's  name!" 

So  Jesus  entered  Jerusalem,  and  went 
Into  the  temple;  and  when  he  had  looked  around 
On  everything,  the  evening  having  come, 
He  went  out  unto  Bethany  with  the  twelve. 

Next  day,  when  they  were  come  from  Bethany, 
He  became  hungry,  and  seeing  a  fig  tree  far  off, 
He  approached,  if  haply  he  might  find  anything 
Thereon ;  but  when  he  came  to  it,  he  found 
Nothing  but  leaves,  for  the  time  of  figs  wasn't  yet. 
Angered  he  cried :  "No  man  eat  fruit  of  thee 
Hereafter  forever!"    And  his  disciples  heard  it. 

They  then  returned  to  Jerusalem,  and  Jesus 
Went  into  the  temple  and  cast  out  them  that  sold 
And  bought  in  the  temple,  and  overthrew  the  tables 
Of  money-changers  and  seats  of  them  that  sold 
The  doves,  and  would  not  suffer  that  any  man 
Should  carry  a  vessel  through  the  temple.    He  said, 

122 


"Is  it  not  written,  'My  house  shall  be  called  of  all 
The  nations  a  house  of  prayer  ?    But  ye  have  made  it 
A  den  of  thieves."    The  scribes  and  priests  heard  it, 
And  sought  how  they  might  kill  him,  fearing  him, 
Because  the  people  marvelled  at  his  teaching. 

When  even  was  come,  he  went  out  of  the  city ; 
And  in  the  morning,  as  they  passed  by,  the  fig  tree 
They  saw  dried  up  from  the  roots.    Peter,  calling 
To  memory,  said  unto  him,  "Master, 
Behold  the  fig  tree  which  thou  cursedst  is  withered 
Away!"      And    the    others    with    them    were    much 

astonished. 

Jesus  replied,  "So  be  it  with  all  men 
Who  never  produce  a  thing  that  is  worth  while!" 

Again  they  came  to  Jerusalem,  and  the  priests 
And  scribes  and  elders  approached  and  said  to  him, 
"By  what  authority  dost  thou  do  these  things?" 

The  Prophet  replied,  "I  also  ask  of  you 
One  question,  and  answer  me,  and  I  will  say 
By  what  authority  I  do  these  things. 
Was  John's  baptism  from  heaven  or  of  men?" 
They  reasoned,  saying,  "If  we  shall  say,  from  heaven, 
He  will  say,  'Why  did  ye  not  believe  him?' 
But  if  we  say,  of  men,  we  fear  the  people, 

123 


Who  count  him  as  a  wonderful  prophet  indeed." 
So  they  replied,  "We  can  not  tell."    Jesus, 
Answering,  said :  "Neither  do  I  tell  you 
By  what  authority  I  do  these  things." 

And  he  began  to  speak  in  parables, 
And  told  them  of  the  master  of  the  vineyard 
Who  sent  his  servants  to  take  the  fruit  of  the  yard, 
But  they  were  wounded  by  the  husbandmen; 
At  last  he  sent  his  son,  his  well  beloved, 
And  they  killed  him  and  cast  him  out  of  the  vineyard. 
Therefore  the  master  destroyed  the  husbandmen 
And  put  the  vineyard  in  the  hands  of  others. 

The  Jews  knew  that  he  spoke  the  parable 
Against  them,  and  wanted  to  lay  their  hands  on  him, 
But  fearing  the  people  left  him  and  went  their  way. 
Then  send  they  unto  him  some  Pharisees 
And  Herodians  to  catch  him  in  his  words. 
These  asked  of  him,  "Master,  we  know  thou  art  true, 
And  carest  for  no  man,  for  thou  regardest 
No  person  of  men  but  teachest  the  way  of  God 
In  truth :  Now  is  it  lawful  to  give  to  Caesar 
Tribute,  or  not?    Shall  we  give,  or  shall  we  not?" 

He,  seeing  their  hypocrisy,  replied, 
"Why  tempt  ye  me?    Bring  me  a  penny,  that  I 

124 


May  look  at  it."    They  brought  one  to  him.    He  said, 
"Tell  me,  whose  is  this  image  and  superscription?" 
"Caesar's,"    they    said.      He    answered,    "Render   to 

Caesar 

The  things  that  are  Caesar's, — to  God  the  things  that 
are  God's." 

Then  some  of  the  Sadducees,  who  do  believe 
There  is  no  resurrection,  demanded,  saying, 
"If  seven  brothers  marry  the  same  woman, 
Whose  wife  is  she  therefore  in  the  resurrection?" 

He  mocked  at  them  and  said,  "How  little  ye  know 
Of  the  sacred  writ  or  Jahweh's  power !    The  dead 
Do  neither  marry  nor  are  they  given  in  marriage. 
God  is  the  God  of  the  living,  not  the  dead." 

They  were  astounded  at  the  Prophet's  astuteness, 
Because  he  argued  well  and  fooled  them  all; 
But  one  of  their  scholars,  a  vain  and  foxy  man, 
Came  up  to  him  and  asked,  "Which  is  the  first 
Commandment  of  all?" 

And  Jesus  answered  him, 

"The  first  of  all  the  commandments  is,  The  Lord 
Our  God  he  is  one  God ;  and  thou  shalt  love 
The  Lord  thy  God  with  all  thy  heart,  with  all 
Thy  soul,  with  all  thy  mind,  and  with  all  thy  strength : 

125 


This  is  the  first  commandment.    The  second  is  like, 
To  wit,  Thou  shalt  love  thy  neighbor  as  thyself. 
There  is  no  other  commandment  greater  than  these." 

The  scholar  repiied,  "Master,  thou  tellst  the  truth : 
There  is  one  God,  and  there  is  none  other  than  he ; 
To  love  him  with  all  the  heart  and  understanding, 
And  to  love  one's  neighbor  as  oneself  is  more 
Than  all  burnt  offerings  and  sacrifices." 

When  Jesus  saw  he  answered  discreetly,  he  said, 
"Thou  art  not  very  far  from  the  kingdom  of  God." 
And  no  man  after  durst  ask  him  any  question. 
But  in  the  temple  he  taught :  "Beware  of  the  scholars, 
Who  love  to  strut  about  in  flowing  robes, 
And  love  the  salutations  of  the  meek 
And  upper  seats  in  the  chancel  of  the  church, 
And  make  long  prayers  for  superficial  show : 
For  verily  I  say,  these  will  be  damned!" 

So  the  Son  of  Man  sat  near  the  treasury 
Observing  how  the  people  cast  their  money 
In  it,  and  many  that  were  rich  cast  much. 
There  came  a  certain  widow,  poor,  and  she 
Threw  in  two  mites,  which  constitute  a  farthing. 
He  called  to  him  his  disciples,  and  said  to  them : 
"This  humble  widow  hath  cast  more  in  than  all 


126 


They  which  have  cast  into  the  treasury: 

They  cast  in  their  abundance,  but  she  of  her  want 

Threw  in  all  that  she  had,  even  her  living!" 

Anger  came  over  him  to  see  how  scribes 
And  Pharisees  exerted  influence 
Upon  the  humble  folk,  to  do  them  harm, 
And  thus  he  cried :  "Woe  unto  you,  scholars 
And  Pharisees,  ye  hypocrites !    For  ye 
Would  compass  sea  and  land  to  make  one  boy 
A  proselyte,  and  when  he  is  made,  ye  make 
Him  twofold  a  child  of  hell  than  ye  yourselves! 

Woe  unto  you,  blind  guides,  who  strain  at  a  gnat 
And  swallow  a  camel  whole.     Woe  unto  you, 
Who  worship  traditions  of  a  church  gone  by! 
Woe  unto  you,  scholars  and  Pharisees, 
Ye  hypocrites,  who  pay  your  tithes  of  mint 
And  anise  and  cummin  with  words  of  much  exact 
ness, 

But  have  omitted  the  greater  things — judgment, 
Mercy  and  faith ;  ye  do  what  ye  ought  not, 
But  what  ye  ought  to  do,  ye  do  it  not! 

Woe  unto  you,  scholars  and   Pharisees, 
Ye  hypocrites!  ye  are  like  whitewashed  tombs, 
Which  seem  outside  so  beautiful,  but  are 

127 


Within   full  of   dead  bones  and  dirtiness. 

Ye  do  appear  without  righteous  to  men, 

But  ye  are  hypocrites,  iniquitous! 

Ye  say,  'If  we  had  been  in  the  days  of  our  fathers, 

We  would  not  have  been  partakers  with  them  of  the 

blood 

Of  the  prophets,  but  wherefore  ye  are  witnesses 
Unto  yourselves  that  ye  are  the  children  of  them 
Which  killed  the  prophets.  Fill  ye  up  then  the 

measure 

Your  fathers  started.    Ye  fools !  Ye  build  the  tombs 
Of   prophets    and   garnish   the   graves   of    righteous 

men! 

Ye  serpents,  ye  generation  of  foxy  vipers, 
How  can  ye  escape  the  damnation  of  hell? 
For  I  say  unto  you,  ye  shall  not  see  me 
Again  until  ye  say,  'Blessed  is  he 
That  cometh  to  us  in  the  name  of  the  Lord.' " 

Now  one  of  the  twelve,  called  Judas  Iscariot, 
Went  to  the  chief est  priests  and  said  to  them, 
"What  will  ye  give  to  me  if  I  deliver 
Jesus  of  Nazareth  into  your  hands?" 
They  said,  "We'll  give  thee  twenty  pieces  of  silver." 
"  Tis  not  enough !"  he  cried.    "Thirty,"  they  said. 

128 


"It  is  agreed,"  he  answered.    And  from  that  time 
He  sought  an  opportunity  to  betray  him. 

The  Son  of  Man  knew  Judas  was  treacherous, 
But  held  his  peace,  knowing  that  he  must  die 
And  be  a  martyr  before  he  could  be  a  Christ 
In  the  eyes  of  men.     So  he  took  his  disciples, 
And  left  the  city,  and  came  to  the  Mount  of  Olives, 
Where  he  did  tell  them  very  marvelous  things, 
Which  they  of  course  could  not  quite  comprehend. 
(And  lots  they  said  he  said  that  he  ne'er  said: 
The  gospel-writers  had  a  trick  of  padding 
Accounts  to  suit  themselves  and  their  purposes — 
A  trick  that  has  been  perpetrated  oft, 
Especially  by  Christians   (?)   eager  to  prove 
Some  doctrine  Jesus  never  even  thought  of. 
The  poets  all  have  great  imaginations.) 

And  early  in  the  morning  he  came  again 
Unto  the  temple,  and  many  people  came 
To  him  to  hear  him  preach;  so  he  sat  down, 
And  taught  them.     Soon  the  scribes  and  Pharisees 
Brought  him  a  woman  caught  in  adultery, 
And  lo!  the  sinner  was  Mary  Magdalene. 
When  they  had  set  her  in  the  midst,  they  said, 
"Master,  this  woman  was  caught  in  adultery, 

129 


Even  the  very  act.     Now  in  the  law 
Moses  commanded  us  that  such  be  stoned. 
What  sayest  thou?" 

They  said  this,  tempting  him, 
That  they  might  have  to  accuse  the  Son  of  Man. 
But  Jesus  stooped,  and  with  his  finger  wrote 
Upon  the  ground,  as  if  he  heard  them  not. 
When  they  continued  asking  him,  he  raised 
Himself,  and  said,  "He  that  is  without  sin 
Among  you,  let  him  be  first  to  cast  a  stone 
At  her,"  and  again  stooping  he  wrote  on  the  ground. 
And  they  who  heard  these  words,  being  convicted 
By  their  own  conscience,  departed  one  by  one, 
Beginning  with  the  eldest,  unto  the  last; 
And  Jesus  was  left  alone,  with  Mary  standing 
Amid  the  folk. 

When  Jesus  raised  himself, 
And  saw  no  one  but  Mary,  he  said  to  her: 
"Woman,  where  are  those  that  are  thine  accusers? 
Hath  none  condemned  thee?"     "No  man,  lord,"  she 

said. 

Then  Jesus  said  to  her,  "Neither  do  I 
Condemn  thee :  go,  and  sin  no  more."    And  he  wept. 


130 


BOOK  VI 

NOW  Satan,  whose  plans  were  being  carried  out, 
Had  entered  Judas  himself,  anxious  to  get 
The  Son  of  Man  betrayed,  and  Judas  had  made 
A  bargain  with  the  chiefest  priests  to  arrange 
A  most  convenient  time  when  they  could  seize  him. 
Happy  to  be  successful,  Satan  called 
A  general  council  of  his  followers, 
And  thus  he  spoke: 

"Dear  friends,  whom  I,  your  chief, 
Do  love  so  much,  the  time  has  come  when  Jesus, 
Son  of  Man,  who  is  our  enemy 
And  who  with  evil  actions  works  against 
Our  glorious  kingdom  to  injure  and  destroy, 
Must  be  betrayed  by  one  of  his  own  friends — 
Since  who  betrayeth  better  than  a  friend? 
I  entered  Judas,  as  ye  know  perchance, 
And  easily  persuaded  him — a  man 
Of  jealous  nature — after  our  own  heart — 
And  miserly  beside — to  bargain  with 
The  priests  and  Pharisees  to  hand  him  over 

131 


To  them   for  thirty  pieces  of   silver  coin. 
He  has  done  this,  and  they  are  awaiting  now 
To  capture  Jesus  and  nail  him  to  a  cross. 
What  think  ye  of  it,  gentle  followers?" 

They  burst  into  a  furious  applause, 
As  when  with  sullen  roar  the  ocean  beats 
Against  the  beetling  cliffs  and  dashes  foam 
Into  the  atmosphere. 

"What  more,"  cried  Shed, 

"Could  we  desire  ?    Thou  hast  done  well,  O  Chief !" 
"Yea!  Yea!"  cried  the  assembly  in  admiration, 
Because  their  sentiment  was  like  the  Devil's — 
They,  like  Americans,  supported  their  leader 
However  good  or  bad  he  happened  to  be! 

But  Satan  cried,  with  thunder  in  his  eye — 
That  awful  eye  that  cowed  the  wildest  imp 
And  most  intractable,  "Obey,  sweet  boys, 
The  parliamentary  rules,  else  will  there  be 
Some  fine  disaster  in  our  noble  camp." 
The  horrid  threat  subdued  them  on  the  spot, 
And  so  they  sat  upon  their  haunches,  quiet, 
And  hearkened  to  the  voice  of  mighty  Satan, 
Without  whose  word  they  feared  to  make  a  motion. 

"I'm  glad,"  the  Devil  said,  "that  ye  approve. 

132 


Has  any  of  you  a  good  suggestion  to  make?" 
He  looked  around  to  inspect  his  gathering 
Of  dreadful  spirits,  and  as  he  glanced  his  eyes 
Resembled  falling  meteors  in  space. 

"I  think,"  responded  Murder,  a  terrible  form 
That  frightened  almost  even  Satan  to  see, 
The  child  of  Lust  and  Jealousy,  brought  up 
By  howling  nurses  of  the  Massikin, 
Who  are  the  patrons  of  orthodox  Calvinists, 
"I  think  that  Pilate  the  governor  should  be  bribed, 
That  justice  may  roll  smoothly  through  the  court." 

"Will  you  not  put  it  in  the  form  of  motion?" 
Demanded  Satan,  who  sticks  to  law  and  order. 

"I  move  that  one  of  us,  appointed  by 
Our  noble  chief,  be  sent  to  Pontius  Pilate 
And  turn  his  mind  against  yon  Nazarene." 

"I  second !"  shouted  hungry  Insatiableness, 
Enthused  by  the  thought  of  having  Jesus  killed. 

"Any  remarks?     In  favor,  yea — opposed? 
It  is  a  vote  unanimous.     Go  thou 
At  once,  Obsequiousness,  and  whisper  the  truth 
In  Pilate's  ear,  that  he  may  know  what  course 
Will  please  the  chiefest  priests  and  Pharisees." 

Immediately  the  form  of  Obsequiousness 

133 


Flew  through  the  Stygian  darkness  of  Hell,  and  went 
To  visit  Pontius  Pilate  and  teach  him  truth; 
And  great  Beelzebul  and  all  the  rest 
Of  the  demon  camp  went  off  to  do  their  work. 
Obsequiousness  found  Pilate  eating  supper, 
And  coming  near  his  ear  he  whispered  softly, 
"There  soon  will  be  brought  in  to  thee  a  man 
Called  Jesus  of  Nazareth,  who  claims  to  be 
A  king  of  the  Jews.    Now  Caiaphas,  the  priests, 
And  most  of  the  Pharisees  do  hate  this  man, 
Because  he  teaches  doctrines  contrary 
To  theirs,  and  they  would  kill  him  if  they  can. 
Heark  to  the  truth :  if  thou  dost  dare  oppose 
The  will  of  the  high  priests,  then  thou  art  lost, 
For  they  will  rouse  the  people  against  thee  then, 
And  thou  wilt  be  recalled  in  shame  to  Rome. 
But  if  thou  hast  some  shrewdness,  thou  wilt  see 
That  it  is  best  to  favor  the  chiefest  priests 
And  give  them  Jesus  the  Nazarene  to  punish. 
It  is  not  pleasant  to  lose  a  post  like  thine, 
Especially  since  it  is  easy  enough 
To  do  best  justice  by  giving  easy  judgment. 
Follow  the  wind  and  thou  wilt  be  all  right." 
Thus  spoke  Obsequiousness,  and  Pilate  heard, 

134 


But  thought  that  it  was  his  imagination. 

Then  came  the  day  of  unleavened  bread,  the  day 
When  the  passover  must  be  butchered.    And  he  sent 

Peter 

And  John,  saying,  "Go  ye,  prepare  for  us 
The  passover,  that  we  may  eat."     But  they 
Demanded,  "Where  wilt  thou  that  we  prepare?" 
He  said,  "When  ye  have  entered  in  the  town, 
A  man  shall  meet  you,  bearing  a  pitcher  of  water; 
Follow  him  into  the  house  which  he  doth  enter. 
And  say  to  the  goodman  of  the  house,  The  master 
Saith  unto  thee,  Where  is  the  guest-chamber, 
Where  I  shall  eat  passover  with  my  disciples?' 
And  he  shall  show  to  you  an  upper  room, 
Both  large  and  furnished:  there  make  ready  for  me." 
They  went,  and  found  as  he  had  said  to  them: 
And  they  made  ready  the  feast  of  passover. 

Now  when  the  hour  was  come,  he  sat  him  down, 
His  twelve  apostles  with  him.    To  them  he  said, 
"I  have  desired  to  eat  this  feast  with  you 
Before  I  die,  for  we  shall  never  eat 
Together  again."    He  took  the  cup  of  wine, 
Gave  thanks  and  said,  "Take  this,  dividing  it 
Among  yourselves:  for  I  say  unto  you, 

135 


No  more  will  I  drink  of  the  fruit  of  the  vine." 
And  he  took  bread,  and  giving  thanks  he  broke  it, 
And  gave  to  them,  remarking:  "This  is  my  body, 
Broken  for  you :  this  do  to  remember  me." 

Then  Jesus  sternly  looked  around  at  the  twelve, 
And  with  his  eye  on  Judas  said,  "Behold, 
The  hand  of  him  that  betrayeth  me  is  here 
On  the  board.    And  truly  the  Son  of  Man  will  go, 
As  it  has  been  arranged ;  but  woe  to  him 
By  whom  he  is  betrayed!"     And  they  began 
To  inquire  among  themselves  which  one  of  them 
It  was  that  should  do  this  thing.     Then  there  arose 
Also  a  strife  among  them,  which  of  them 
Should  be  accounted  the  greatest;  but  Jesus  frowned, 
And  said :  "The  kings  of  the  Gentiles  exercise 
A  lordship  over  them,  and  benefactors 
The  kings  are  called ;  but  ye  shall  not  be  so : 
Let  the   eldest  be  as   the   younger,   and   the   leader, 
serve." 

Then  he  saw  Simon  raise  up  proudly  his  head, 
And  he  said  unto  him,  "O  Simon,  Simon, 
Behold,  Beelzebul  hath  wished  to  have  thee, 
That  he  may  sift  thee  as  wheat:  But  I  have  prayed 
For  thee,  that  thou  fail  not  in  faith ;  and  when 

136 


From  an  oil  painting  by  P.  &  L.  Wells'] 

A    STUDY    OF    THE    SON    OF    MAN. 


Thou  art  converted,  strengthen  thy  brethren  too." 

Peter  replied,  "O  master,  I  am  ready 
To  go  with  thee,  to  prison  and  to  death." 

"Nay,"  said  the  Son  of  Man,  "I  tell  thee,  Peter, 
Thrice  shalt  thou  deny  thou  knowest  me 
Before  the  cock  shall  crow  at  all  this  day." 
But  Peter  swore  with  an  oath  that  he  would  not; 
And  all  with  vehemence  did  swear  the  same. 

"Enough!"  cried  Jesus.     "I  know  your  purposes. 
Now  tell  me,  when  sent  I  you  out  without 
A  purse  or  shoes,  did  ye  lack  anything?" 
"Nothing,"  they  answered.     "But  now,  who  hath  a 

purse 

Or  scrip  take  it,  and  he  that  hath  no  sword 
Let  him  sell  off  his  garment  and  buy  a  sword : 
For  they  will  seek  to  take  us  by  violence. 
At  least  I  will  accomplish  the  prophecies 
That    have    been     written     concerning    the    Jewish 

Messiah. 

Who  else  shall  be,  save  I,  the  Nazarene, 
This  prophesied  Messiah,  the  man  of  sorrows? 
'Twas  spoke,  'And  he  was  reckoned  among  the  trans 
gressors.' 
My  followers,  how  many  swords  have  ye?" 

137 


They   said,    "Dear   master,   behold,    here   are   two 

swords," 
For  Peter  and  Thomas  carried  one  apiece. 

And  Jesus  answered  them,  "It  is  enough. 
The  time  approaches — come — the  end  is  near." 

And  he  went  out,  and  came,  as  he  was  wont, 
To  the  Mount  of  Olives,  and  his  disciples  followed. 
When  he  was  at  the  place,  he  said  to  them, 
"Pray  that  ye  enter  not  into  temptation." 
Then  he  withdrew  from  them  the  throw  of  a  stone, 
And  kneeling  down  he  prayed  aloud  and  said: 
"Father,  if  thou  be  willing,  remove  this  cup 
From  me;  but  nevertheless,  may  not  my  will, 
But  thine,  be  done !"    Thus  prayed  he  to  his  god, 
Whom  he  called  father;  and  lo,  an  angel  seemed 
To  come  to  him  from  the  skies,  strengthening  him — 
The  angel  Gabriel.    Then  Jesus,  being 
In  agony,  prayed  still  more  earnestly; 
And  to  the  ground  there  fell  great  drops  of  sweat, 
Like  blood   from   a  cut.     And   when  he  rose   from 

prayer, 

He  came  to  his  disciples,  and  found  them  sleeping. 
He  aroused  them,  paying:  "Why  sleep  ye?    Rise  and 
pray, 

138 


Lest  ye  be  tempted  and  fall  a  prey  to  Satan." 

Then  he  took  apart  with  him  Peter 
And  Zebedee's  sons,  and  sorrowfully  said 
To  them,  "My  soul  is  exceeding  sorrowful, 
Even  to  death;  stay  here,  and  watch  with  me." 
And  he  went  on  a  little  further,  and  fell 
Upon  his  face,  and  prayed :    "O  father,  if  it 
Be  possible,  let  this  cup  pass  from  me: 
I  have  not  yet  accomplished  all  my  work, 
It  seems,  and  life  is  very  dear  to  me." 

But  when  he  came  and  found  the  three  asleep, 
He  cried,  "Could  ye  not  watch  with  me  one  hour? 
Both  watch  and  pray,  that  ye  enter  not  temptation 
The  spirit  indeed  is  willing,  but  the  flesh  is  weak." 

Again  he  went  away,  and  prayed  the  same 
As  before.    Then  he  returned  to  his  disciples, 
And  said :  "Oh  sleep  on  now,  and  take  your  rest : 
Behold,  the  hour  is  come,  and  the  Son  of  Man 
Will  be  betrayed  into  the  hands  of  sinners. 
Rise,  let  us  be  going,  for  he  is  near 
Who  doth  betray  me." 

While  he  yet  spake,  Judas, 

One  of  the  twelve,  approached  with  a  multitude 
Of  folk  with  swords  and  sticks,  and  he  drew  near 

139 


To  Jesus  to  kiss  him ;  but  Jesus  cried  to  him, 
"Judas,  betrayest  the  Son  of  Man  with  a  kiss?" 

Then  those  about  the  Nazarene  demanded, 
"Master,  shall  we  hit  them  with  our  swords  ?" 
He  answered,  "Yes,"  so  one  of  them,  'twas  Peter, 
Struck  at  the  high  priest's  servant  and  lopped  his  ear. 
"Enough,"  said  Jesus — "put  away  your  swords. 
Are  ye  come  out  as  if  against  a  thief, 
With  sticks  and  swords  ?    When  I  was  with  you  there 
In  the  temple,  ye  did  not  even  stretch  your  hands 
Against  me,  but  this  is  now  your  hour — the  hour 
Of  darkness.     Fellows,  continue  on  your  way!" 

They   brought   him   to   the   house   of   the   highest 

priest, 

And  Peter  followed  them  from  quite  afar, 
But  all  the  others  quickly  ran  away. 
And  when  they  had  kindled  a  fire  inside  the  hall, 
And  had  sat  down  together,  Peter  sat 
Among  them.    A  certain  maid  beheld  him  there, 
As  he  sat  by  the  fire,  and  earnestly  looked  at  him, 
And  said  aloud,  "This  man  was  also  with  him." 
But  Peter  denied  1iis  teacher,  exclaiming,  "Woman, 
I  know  him  not,  by  Jah !"    And  after  a  while 
Another  perceived  him,  and  said,  "Thou  art  also 

140 


Of  them."    Peter  replied,  "I  am  not,  man !" 

About  an  hour  later  another  affirmed 

With  confidence,  "This  fellow  too  was  with  him, 

For  he  is  a  Galilean."     Peter  cried, 

"I  know  not  what  thou  meanest,  dirty  fellow." 

At  once,  while  yet  he  spoke,  the  rooster  crowed; 

And  Peter's  teacher  turned  and  looked  at  him, 

And  Peter  remembered  the  words  of  Jesus — 'Before 

The  cock  shall  crow,  thou  shall  deny  me  thrice.' 

Then  he  went  out  and  wept  with  bitterness. 

The  men  that  held  the  Nazarene  mocked  him, 
And  struck  him ;  and  when  they  had  him  blindfolded, 
They  hit  him  on  the  face,  and  demanded  of  him, 
"Come,  prophesy  who  is  it  striking  thee!" 
And  many  other  insulting  things  they  said. 

As  soon  as  it  was  day,  the  chiefest  priests 
And  scribes  and  elders  of  the  people  assembled, 
And  led  him  into  their  council-room,  and  asked: 
"Art  thou  the  Messiah?    Tell  us."    Jesus  replied, 
"If  I  should  tell  you,  ye  would  not  believe. 
If  I  should  ask  of  you,  ye  would  not  answer 
Or  let  me  go."     Then  all  of  them  demanded, 
"Art  thou  the  Son  of  Man?"    "Ye  say  I  am." 
"What  need  we  any  further  witness?"  they  cried. 

141 


"For  we  have  heard  ourselves  from  his  own  mouth." 

The  whole  assembly  arose  and  led  him  to  Pilate, 
And  they  began  to  accuse  him,  saying,  "We  found 
This  fellow  perverting  the  people,  forbidding  them 
To  pay  the  tribute  to  Caesar,  saying  that  he 
Himself  is  the  Messiah,  a  king."     Then  Pilate 
Demanded,  "Art  thou  the  king  of  the  Jews  indeed?" 
The  Nazarene  replied,  "Thou  sayest  it." 
The  priests  and  elders  began  to  accuse  the  man 
Again,  and  told  to  Pilate  falsities ; 
But  Jesus  did  answer  nothing  to  all  of  it. 
Then  Pilate  said  to  him,  "Dost  thou  not  hear 
How  many  accusations  they  make  against  thee?" 
Jesus  responded  never  a  word,  so  that 
The  governor  was  very  much  astonished. 
"I  cannot  find  a  fault  with  him,"  said  Pilate: 
"Take  him  yourselves,  if  he  has  broke  your  laws, 
And    judge   him   according   to   your   own   laws   and 

custom." 

The  Jews  replied,  "It  is  not  lawful  for  us 
To  put  any  man  to  death." 

So  Pilate  turned, 

And  entering  again  his  judgment  hall 
He  called  in  Jesus  and  privately  said  to  him, 

142 


"Art  thou  the  king  of  the  Jews?"    "Sayest  thou  this 

Of  thyself,  or  did  others  tell  it  to  thee  of  me?" 

"Am  I  a  Jew?"  responded  Pilate.     "Thy  people 

And  thy  chief  priests  have  delivered  thee  to  me. 

Tell  me,  what  hast  thou  done?"  Jesus  replied, 

"I  do  not  pretend  to  be  a  ruler  here. 

If  that  were  so,  my  followers  would  fight 

For  me,  that  I  should  not  be  handed  over 

Like  any  criminal.     I  am  no  king 

In  this  vain  world." 

"Then  thou  art  still  a  king?" 
"I  did  not  say  I  was — thou  sayest  it. 
For  this  great  purpose  I  was  born,  and  for 
This  cause  I  came  into  the  world,  that  I 
Should  bear  a  witness  unto  the  truth." 

"What  is," 

Demanded  Pilate,  "the  truth?"     But  Jesus  looked 
At  Pilate  fixedly,  and  said  no  word. 

Then  Pilate  went  out  again  and  said  to  them, 
"Will  ye  that  I  release  Barabbas  or  Jesus?" 
For  on  that  day  of  feast  the  governor 
Was  wont  to  release  for  the  folk  a  prisoner, 
According  to  their  demand,  whomever  they  would; 
And  they  had  then  a  prisoner  called  Barabbas. 

143 


The  wife  of  Pilate  called  him  back,  and  said, 
"Have  naught  to  do  with  that  just  man,  since  I 
Have  suffered  much  in  a  dream  because  of  him." 
But  the  priests  and  elders  persuaded  the  mob  to  ask 
The    release   of    Barabbas,   but   the   death   of   Jesus 

Christ, 

Who  in  their  eyes  was  a  dangerous  imposter. 
If  he  had  shut  his  mouth  and  followed  them, 
They  never  would  have  dragged  him  in  to  Pilate. 

"Barabbas!"  the  people  cried.     "Release  Barabbas! 
And  crucify  this  man  of  Nazareth!" 

"What  evil  hath  he  done?"  said  the  governor. 

They  cried  the  more,  "Let  him  be  crucified!" 
So  Pilate,  when  he  saw  it  was  in  vain, 
And  only  more  tumult  made,  which  he  much  feared, 
He  took  some  water  before  the  multitude 
And  washed  his  hands,  remarking,  "Ye  see,  I  am 
Not  guilty  of  the  blood  of  this  just  person: 
See  ye  to  it."    Then  answered  all  the  people, 
"His  blood  be  on  our  heads  and  on  our  children." 
So  Pilate  released  Barabbas,  but  scourged  Jesus, 
And  then  delivered  him  to  be  crucified. 

Meanwhile  the  traitor,  Judas,  seeing  his  teacher 
Was    captured    and    bound    and    condemned   by   the 

priests  to  die, 

144 


Repented  himself,  and  brought  again  the  thirty 
Pieces  of  silver  unto  the  priests  and  elders, 
Saying,  "I  have  betrayed  innocent  blood!" 
"What's  that  to  us?"  they  cried.    "See  thou  to  that." 
He  cast  the  pieces  of  silver  down  in  the  temple, 
And  going  out  he  went  and  hanged  himself 
Because  of  his  remorse — and  who  was  sorry? 

Then  did  the  soldiers  of  Pilate  drag  the  prophet 
Into  the  common  hall,  and  gathered  their  band 
Of  comrades.     They  stripped  him  and  put  on  him  a 

robe 
Of  scarlet;  and  when  they  had  plaited  a  crown  of 

thorns 

They  put  it  on  his  head  with  mockery, 
And  in  his  right  hand  placed  a  reed  as  if 
It  were  a  kingly  scepter ;  they  bowed  the  knee 
Before  him,  crying,  "Hail,  king  of  the  Jews !" 
They  spit  upon  him,  and  taking  the  reed  they  struck 
Him  on  the  head  with  it  derisively. 
They  then  took  off  the  robe  and  put  on  him 
His  raiment,  and  led  him  away  to  crucify  him. 

As  they  came  out,  they  seized  upon  one  Simon, 
Cyrenian,  who  came  out  of  the  country, 

145 


And  forced  the  cross  on  him  when  Jesus  was  tired, 

For  he  was  weak  from  hunger  and  suffering. 

A  mighty  company  of  people  followed, 

Some  of  whom  were  friends  bowed  down  by  grief, 

Some  merely  curious,  but  many  hostile 

To  Jesus  and  hating  him  because  of  his 

New  teachings  and  claims  that  seemed  extravagant 

And  roused  their  jealousy,  fearing  beside 

A  loss  of  their  prestige  and  influence. 

The  Prophet  turned  toward  those  who  wept,  and 

said, 

""Weep  not,  O  Daughters  of  Jerusalem, 
For  me,  but  for  yourselves  and  for  your  children. 
Behold,  the  day  will  come  when  they  shall  say, 
'Blest  are  the  barren,  the  wombs  that  never  bare, 
And  the  paps  which  never  gave  suck!'     Then  shall 

they  cry 

To  the  mountains,  'Fall  on  us!'  and  to  the  hills, 
'Oh  cover  us !'    For  if  they  do  these  things 
In  a  tree  that  is  green,  what  shall  be  done  in  a  dry?" 

When  they  had  come  to  a  place  called  Golgotha, 
Which  means,  A  place  of  a  skull,  an  elevation, 
They  nailed  him  to  the  cross,  and  crucified 
Two  thieves  with  him,  with  Jesus  in  the  midst. 

146 


Now  Pilate  had  written  a  title,  and  had  it  placed 
Upon  the  cross,  on  top,  and  thus  it  read : 
JESUS   OF   NAZARETH   THE   KING   OF  THE 

JEWS. 

And  it  was  written  in  Hebrew,  Greek  and  Latin. 
The  priests  of  the  Jews  complained  to  Pilate,  saying, 
"Write  not,  The  King  of  the  Jews',  but  that  he  said, 
'I  am  the  King  of  the  Jews !' '      Pilate  replied, 
"Fellows,  what  I  have  written  I  have  written." 
And  when  the  people  saw  the  sign,  they  mocked 
At  Jesus  and  spit  at  him  and  wagged  their  heads; 
And  one  of  the  thieves  made  fun  of  him,  but  the 

other 

Rebuked  him,  saying,  "Dost  thou  not  fear  Jahweh, 
Seeing  thou  art  likewise  condemned?    For  we 
Receive  the  due  reward  of  our  deeds,  whereas 
This  man  hath  not  done  anything  amiss." 
And  Jesus  gave  a  blessing  to  the  thief. 

The  soldiers  took  the  garments  of  Jesus,  and  made 
Four  parts,  to  every  soldier  a  part;  and  too 
His  coat,  which  was  without  a  seam,  woven 
Throughout ;  and  they  cast  lots  for  this  seamless  coat, 
Because  they  did  not  want  to  tear  it.    Of  course 
The  poet  had  to  have  the  scripture  fulfilled, 

147 


Which  saith,  'They  parted  my  raiment  among  them 
selves, 

And  for  my  seamless  vesture  they  did  cast  lots.' 
Another  prophecy  the  gospel  poet 
Did  feel  obliged  to  fulfil,  which  is  in  Psalms, 
Verse  twenty-one  of  chapter  sixty-nine: 
'They  gave  me  also  gall  for  meat,  and  in 
My  thirst  they  gave  me  vinegar  to  drink.' 
So  Jesus  said,  "I  thirst,"  and  they  set  forth 
For  him  a  vessel  filled  with  vinegar, 
And  filled  a  sponge  with  vinegar,  and  put  it 
On  hyssop,  and  put  it  to  his  mouth.    When  he 
Received  it,  the  prophecy  was  then  fulfilled ! 

Now  there  stood  by  the  cross  of  Jesus  his  mother, 
His  aunt — Mary  the  wife  of  Cleophas, 
And  Mary  Magdalene,  who  loved  him  so. 
When  Jesus  saw  his  mother,  and  the  disciple 
Whom  he  best  loved — according  to  that  disciple — 
Standing  by,  he  said  to  his  mother,  "Woman, 
Behold  thy  son !"  and  then  to  that  disciple, 
"Behold  thy  mother!"    And  his  beloved  disciple 
Did  treat  her  as  his  mother  from  that  time  forth, 
And  took  her  home.    And  Jesus  said  to  Mary 
Of  Magdala,  "Farewell  to  thee,  my  friend! 

148 


Thy  love  hath  often  soothed  my  wounded  heart; 
And  may  thou  yet,  with  thy  great  sympathy, 
Heal  hearts  that  have  been  treated  cruelly." 
They  sobbed  aloud,  and  he  cried,  "It  is  finished," 
And  bowed  his  head,  and  died. 

The  Jews  therefore, 

Because  it  was  the  preparation,  that  bodies 
Should  not  remain  on  the  cross  the  sabbath  day, 
Did  ask  permission  from  Pilate  to  break  their  legs, 
And  carry  them  away.     Then  came  the  soldiers, 
And  broke  the  legs  of  both  the  malefactors; 
But  when  they  came  to  Jesus,  finding  him  dead 
They  did  not  break  his  legs,  but  one  of  them, 
In  order  that  the  scripture  be  fulfilled, 
Which  says,  'A  bone  of  him  shall  not  be  broken,' 
And  'They  shall  look  on  him  whom  they  have  pierced,' 
Did  pierce  his  side  with  a  spear,  and  out  came  blood ! 
Thus  fiction  shall  be  nobly  joined  to  truth. 
But  what  the  truth  about  the  Son  of  Man, 
Who  then  can  tell?    Alas,  what  is  the  truth? 

Some  men  did  say,  that  when  the  prophet  died, 
The  veil  of  the  temple  was  rent  in  two  from  top 
To  bottom ;  the  earth  did  quake  and  rocks  did  open ; 
And  out  of  the  graves  the  bodies  of  saints  arose 

149 


And  walked  about  the  city,  appearing  to  many 
Until  the  moon  was  new  and  her  brightness  hid, 
Which  was  the  space  of  about  a  week  and  a  day. 

Then  Joseph  of  Arimathea,  a  counsellor, 
Went  boldly  to  Pilate  and  begged  the  corpse  of  Jesus. 
Pilate  called  unto  him  the  centurion, 
And  when  he  learned  from  him  that  he  was  dead 
He  gave  the  body  to  Joseph,  who  bought  fine  linen, 
Took  down  the  body,  wrapped  it  in  the  cloth, 
And  laid  it  in  the  sepulchre  hewn  out 
Of  rock,  and  rolled  a  stone  unto  the  door. 

Mary  of  Magdala  and  Mary  the  mother 
Of  Joses  and  others  saw  where  it  was  placed. 
And  when  the  sabbath  was  past,  the  Magdalene 
And  Mary  the  mother  of  James  and  Salome  bought 
Sweet  spices,  that  they  might  come  and  anoint  the 

body. 

So  early  in  the  morning,  the  following  day, 
They  came  to  the  tomb  at  the  rising  of  the  sun ; 
But  they  did  question,  "Who  shall  roll  away 
For  us  the  stone  from  the  door  of  the  sepulchre?" 
Yet  when  they  looked,  they  saw  it  rolled  away; 
And  entering  in,  they  thought  they  saw  a  youth 
Clothed  in  a  long  white  garment  sitting  there. 

150 


They  were  afraid,  it  being  very  ghostly, 
And  ran  away  as  fast  as  they  could  go, 
And  said  to  all  they  met  that  they  had  seen 
A  white  young  man  inside  the  tomb  who  spoke 
To  them  and  said  that  Jesus  had  flown  away. 
Some  did  believe — only  a  very  few. 

Now  Mary  Magdalene,  from  whom  the  Son 
Of  Man  had  cast  out  seven  wicked  devils, 
Thought  that  the  spirit  of  Jesus  appeared  to  her, 
And  so  she  went  about  and  told  it  to  those 
Who  had  accompanied  the  prophet,  and  they, 
Busy  with  mourning  and  weeping,  as  was  the  custom, 
Believed  it  not,  but  she  was  sure  of  it. 
And  others  too  declared  the  spirit  of  Jesus 
Appeared  to  them,  and  spoke,  and  even  ate, 
But  doubting  Thomases  could  not  believe. 

Soon  after  a  crowd  of  people  thought  they  saw 
A  form  ascend  into  the  atmosphere, 
And  some  of  them  did  think  it  was  a  bird, 
While  others  believed  it  was  the  spirit  of  Jah 
Ascending  upward  to  sit  on  a  golden  throne 
Somewhere  above  the  clouds,  but  others  declared — 
They  were  great  prophets — it  was  an  aeroplane, 
In  order  that  the  prophecies  of  old 

151 


Might  be  fulfilled,  that  said:  'Thy  mercy,  Jah, 
Is  in  the  heavens,  and  too  thy  faithfulness 
Reacheth  unto  the  clouds;'  and,  'Yet  he  passed 
Away,  and,  lo,  he  was  not:  yea,  I  sought  him, 
But  he  could  not  be  found ;'  and,  'Thou,  O  Jah, 
Be  merciful  to  me,  and  raise  me  up, 
That  I  may  wreak  revenge  upon  them  all ;' 
And,  'Lo,  they  saw  it,  and  so  they  greatly  marvelled ; 
They  all  were  troubled,  and  hasted  quick  away.' 


152 


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